Evening star., 1927-07-18
Tentatively Decide to Accept
100000 Tons as Basis
for Discussion.
ISHII NOTIFIES GIBSON
OF PROVISIONAL ACCORD
100000 Cruiser Tonnage Limits
Proposed for U. s and Britain.
Parity on Submarines.
Ry tha Associated Press.

GENEVA, July 18.-An official COM
munique, which indicated that the tri-
partite naval conference has taken a
favorable turn. was issued today at
the end of meeting of the repre-
sentatives of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan.
The communique read:
"Following discussions in the plen.
ary meeting CAST Thursday and act.
ing on the suggestion there made that
one Of the chief difficulties was to rec
oncile the views of the British and
Japanese delegations, conversations
have been proceeding between the
three powers with respect to auxiliary
surface craft with the purpose Of
bridging those differences.
"The progress has been sufficiently
encouraging to warrant further ex-
animation of the matter in detail"
British Accept Basis.
A glimmer Of hope that the con.
ference might after all reach an ac'
cord fairly satisfactory to all three
parties appeared on the Geneva hori-
zon today when it became known the
British delegates after consultation
with the Japanese agreed tentatively
to take 100000 tons roughly as a
basis for discussion on a surface craft
total for Great Britain and the United
States.
This total tonnage figure. compris-
ing cruisers and destroyers, carries
with it certain "ifs," lands" and
butts" notably concerning the use of
so-called obsolete ships for patrolling
and convoy purposes, and restrictions
upon the number Of 8-inch guns which
can be mounted on cruisers. 1t has
been learned that it would allow Japan
practical parity with the other two
parties in submarines.
Viscount Ishii, in behalf Of the Japa.
nese, notified Hugh S. Gibson, chief
American delegate. of the provisional
agreement reached with Great Britain.
The understanding is that the con.
versations were carried out in pursu
ance Of Mr.. Gibson's remark at the
recent plenary session that there
might be a chance for an understand.
ing if the Japanese and British were
able to reconcile their widely divergent
views.
100000 Tons in Cruisers.
1H0 OUU,UUu"LOIl WOulu give
Great Britain and the United States
about 0,000 tons in cruisers. One
of the conditions of the plan is a clause
emitting the three powers to maintain
obsolete warships apart from the total
tonnage. On the basis of 25 per cent
these vessels would bring the total of
cruisers and destroyers. so far as the
United States and Great Britain are
concerned to 625, 900 tons.
There are understood to be reStric.
tionS as regards the mounting OF
S-inch guns on cruisers under 10000
tons, while the number of 10.000-ton
cruisers would be fixed at about IL
for the United States and Great
Britain.
Discussion Is Friendly.
Today's meeting was held at the
! villa Of a Japanese official just outside
Of Geneva. A most friendly and frank
discussion of the cruiser problem from
a political standpoint was held and
the delegates separated expressing
sentiments of satisfaction that the
| road to success actually had been en-
| tered upon.
! This does not mean that various
| difficulties are not yet to be encoun'
tered. The backbone of the difficulty
| is felt to be the determination OF
which country or countries is ready
to make the most concessions.
A figure of roughly 100000 tons ir
cruisers and destroyers combined fol
| the United States and Great Britain
has now become the base for discus
sion. But this total is likely to vary
| upward or downward, probably chiefly
| upward, in accordance to how ar
| agreement Is reached on the condi
tional strings attached to the tota
tonnage acceptance.
This would included permission tc
maintain obsolete warships, the utili
Zation of 8-inch guns and the problem
of the proportion Of tonnage in sub
marines among the three powers
which Japan would like to see al
parity.
| Favor Obsolete Ship Use.
AS a result of the fact that tht
United States soon will have large
number of obsolete cruisers, Ameri
can circles say that the United State:
would seem to suffer disadvantage II
any arrangement concerning obsolete
craft for some years to come, but 1t !:
pointed out here that this is a result
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