Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-17
LITTLE HOPE SEEN HERE.
Conference Reviewing Results oil
Open Session, Reports State.

Conference Reviewing Results Of
Open Session, Reports State.
By the Associated Press.
Little hope Of immediate solution
of the Geneva naval limita ton prob.
lem was held out by Washington Off.
Gals yesterday on the basis of week
end reports from the American
delegation.
The conference apparently was
reviewing the results of the plenary
session of last Thursday, when the
position OF each government on the
cruiser problem was restated without
any new factor entering into the dis
cuSsion to give promise Of a basis for
agreement. Reports from Ambassa.
dor Gibson were said to be largely
routine and to shed no new light on
the situation.
A call by the British Ambassador.
Sir Esme Howard, on Secretary Kel.
logg during the day also was des-
cribed as having no significance so
far as any move toward a compromise
might be concerned.
Howard Remaining Here.
The Ambassador Is remaining n
Washington under Instructions from
his government, in order to keep in
intimate touch with the state De-
partment during the conference, but
X his conversations with Mr.. Kellogg
have served to suggest a new line Of
approach to the problem at Geneva,
Washington officials failed to reflect
any enthusiasm for the project.
1t was emphasized that in putting
forward a tentative suggestion for a
total cruiser tonnage for Great
Britain and the United States of
100000, the American group had
gone far in effort to conciliate British
demands for nearly 100000. There
appears to be absolutely no prospect
for any further upward revision on
the part Of the Americans.
Even the 4O0.000.ton figure was
held to add to the difficulties of the
conference In one respect, for as
Ambassador Gibson pointed out in
his speech last Thursday. the num-
Der Of 10.000-ton cruisers which the
Washington Government would feel
1t necessary to construct would de-
pend to a large extent upon the total
cruiser tonnage limit fixed by the
conference.
Compromise Move Unavailing.
In any event the American gesture
toward compromise was wholly un-
availing, because it was unsatisfac-
tory to the British, who found the
limit too low, and to the Japanese,
who found the figure altogether too
high for Japan's needs. Under the
circumstances 1t was clear that
nothing more could be expected from
the American delegation until the
Japanese and British positions are
reconciled.
Examination Of tentative proposals
brought up during technical discus
sions Of the week has satisfied Off
Gals here that they represent no
more than a change in wording. while
among naval officers 1t was frankly
declared that all Of the British
stipulations and conditions were
aimed at establishing naval SUI
periority for the British cruiser fleets,
not only as to types Of ships but also
as to size Of armament, which would
give Great Britain a decided military
advantage because of her large
merchant tonnage available for war
time conversion.
State Department officials are much
more reserved in comment on the
British suggestions. 1t was made
clear. however. that they do not feel
that the success of the Geneva con-
ference Is so all important to the
Washington Government for either
internal or external reasons as to
justify the sacrifices in national Sc
curity which would be involved for
the United States in the British view
point