The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-06-21
3-P0WER MEET
READY TO GET
DOWN n TO WORK
Each Participating Nation
Submits It's Plan Of Ma
val Limitation
DISCUSSION TO FOLLOW
Task Will Not Be Easy One,
But Fulfillment Is Not
Impossible

llHeu LOT caSH participating nation,
the threc-power conference was
discussion of further naval limita-
tions.
Succinctly, the position Of the
Biz Three may be stated as:
United States--Extcnsion Of the
5-5-3 ratio to all warships, with
definite tonnage limits for cruisers,
destroyers and submarines.
Great Britain-Further limitation
of battleships, reduction in size and
armament of both capital ships and
cruisers and extension Of the BOB
ratio to 10000 ton cruisers, but no
mention Of application to auXiliaries.
Japan--A naval holiday on the
basis of the status quo, and ban
on battlcship construction.
Provide Basis for Discussion
In each case the plans submitted
embodying the above tentative poll
cies comprised much complicated
technical detail, thus providing a
maximum basis for discussion and,
possibly, for compromise as the con-
ference gets down to work.
Although the proposals arc widely
divergent, there was hone that the
delegations would be able to combine
them into an harmonious whole and
thus complete the work started by
the Washington naval limitation con-
ference in 1922. That the task will
not be an easy one was freely ad
mitted; yet no one has said it Is i'm
possible Of fulfillment.
This morning the executive com
mittec Of the conference had before
it the problem Of deciding whether
the phases of disarmament raised at
yesterdays - preliminary session
should be referred to technical COM
mttces for consideration forthwith,
or whether it would be wiser to hold
further round table discuss ions of
the conference as whole. The lat
ter course, it was held in some quar-
tiers. would allow more light to be
shed on the ideas proffercd and the
reconciliatiou6 between the vasious'
proposals.
America Not lnsistcht
The American delegation had not
yet taken a position for either alter
native. Mr.. Gibson smilin"ly told
representatives of the world press:
we are merely trying to devise ways
satisfactory to ALL"
The British deem it very doubtful
that the Japanese will agree to ap-
plication of the 5-53 ratio to cruis-
ers. One Japanese official declared:
sour offer presents Il very big step
beyond what we consented to ut
Washington. We did considerable
scrapping of ships even before the
Washington conference"
As for the Japanese recommends
tions. the Americans, after a cursory
examination, believed they would
seriously interfere with American
freedom in naval construction. The
British proposals, it was stated,
would be difficult Of acceptance, the
Americans having no faith in the
wisdom of decreasing the size of
battleships and cruisers. They are
particularly dubious about decreas
ing the size Of cruiser guns. which
was fixed at the Washington con-
ference, with the five participating
powers concurring, after the special
needs of American national safety
were duly considered.
Japan's Contention
Admiral Saito, the Japanese
spokesman, addressing the delegates,
declared he believed that if SYM
pathetic consideration were taken of
individual conditions and require
ments of the various nations. an ac-
ceptable agreement would be reached.
But he said it was most important
without simultaneously endangering
national security. He then proposed
that for stipulated period the
naval powers should promise to re-
frain from entering upon new build
ing programs, or in any way in
creasing naval strength.
In statement last night explain
ing their proposals, the American
delegation said if existing construc-
tion programs were completed, the
United States would have to scrap
Immediately about 10000 tons of
auxiliary and combatant surface yes
sells and $4,000 additional tons of
such craft upon completion of its
present building program.
Onn an equal basis, Great Britain
would have to scrap about 10000
tons in the same categories on COM
.pleting her present program. The
reduction of Japan was placed at
about 10000 tons.
III the plans outlined in the
American proposal were adopted on
the basis Of 10000 tons of submar-
ines for the United States and the
British empire respectively, and 54,-
600 tons for Japan" the statement
oss ssads mo ssrsppns S S
building programs were brought to
completion"
In conclusion the statement says
that these plans would stop COM
petitive building-the chief object
Of the conference-would avoid
scrapping new construction and en-
able moderate replacement and build
ing schedules.