Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-29
Continued from First Page)

Continued from First Page.)
gun cruisers, and. by the same token,
save the tripartite naval conference,
emanated today from British circles
This suggestion was that the
American delegation ask for the right
TO build more S-inch-gun secondary
cruisers than is provided for under
the British plan submitted yesterday,
and. that the British would look fav-
orably upon such a proposal. pro-
Nided the British total tonnage in
cruisers was raised in proportion.
Under this plan, the United States
would probably build three or four
H-nch-gun cruisers to counterbalance
the British cruiser York and four
British cruisers of the Hawkins class,
1t was said.
Six Months Recess Reported.
This latest British suggestion,
which apparently has no official
standing as yet. is said to constitute
the Willingness Of the British to dis
Cuss Americas right to construct four
or five additional warships of this
tyne.
According to information obtained
in authoritative circles. Lord Cecil.
member of the British delegation, dur
ing yesterdays private session of the
principal delegates. suggested an ad-
journment of the conference for about
six months in order to permit time
for further reflection. He was repre-.
scented as expressing the opinion that
such an adjournment would be much
better from every standpoint than an
indefinite adjournment without results.
Meanwhile there was a possibility
that the projected plenary session
called for Monday may not be held
until Wednesday, Hugh s. Gibson.
chief of the American delegation. Tor
one, wants ample time to exchange
messages with Washington. and il the
American delegation is not ready by
Monday for presentation of its views
on the British plan he may possibly
request a postponement of the plenary
session.
The conference generally was re.
garded today in a critical, if not hope
less. situation, with the only ray or
light suggestions from British circles
that they are still open to proposals,
provided that these do not affect the
Fundamentals of the British plans,
which they say must be retained.
Other Proposals Adhered To.
The British proposals submitted at
yesterdays afternoon conference al
4efo 10 ueClSlOIlS previously
ed by the delegates concerning the
sizes of destroyers and submarines.
The maximum size of destroyers
1lotilla leaders is placed at 1850 tons
and ordinary destroyers at 1900 tons,
with the understanding that neither
the leaders nor the destroyers proper
ehall carry guns exceeding the caliber
of 5 inches.
The British suggested that of the
total tonnage in the destroyer class
100 per cent may be used for vessels
of $500 tons and under. but that not
more than 16 per cent of the total
may be used for the fiotilla leader
class.
The British divided submarines into
classes Class is for submarines be-
tween 1000 tons and 1900 tons dis
placement. Glass is for undersea
craft whose maximum tonnage would
he 600. It is additionally provided
that no submarine may mount a gun
In excess of 5 inches and Of the total
tonnage to be a1located to the United
/. States, Great Britain and Japan. not
more than two-thirds may be used for
Glass types.
Japanese Expect Breakup.
The japanese have already referred
to the conference as "washout" and
have set Mondays plenary session as
the date for the final breakup. The
Americans do not see a particularly
brilliant prospect for the conferences
termination along the lines hopefully
laid down by President Coolidge when
he suggested the parleys.
The rejected British proposals were
made a few hours after the return to
Geneva of w. c. Bridgeman and Wis
count Cecil, the chief British dele
gates. who had gone to London to con-
fer with the cabinet.
The understanding Is that the
Japanese as we'll as the Americans
were displeased with the proposals.
The objections were based on the
view that the plan would curtail the
liberty of the United States and
Japan to build secondary cruisers
having .S-inch guns: that the British
had relnquished the stand that war
ships should be limited by categories
or types, and that under the British
scheme the United States and
Japan navies would have to accept
6-inch gun cruisers.
Americans Offer Concession.
In the course Of yesterdays ses-
~,or tho American da1eUa tiOn nrOf-