Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-08-04
Americans Reject Last-Hour
Proposal of British for
Agreement on Destroyers
and Submarines.
THREE POWERS ASKED
TO STUDY PROBLEMS
Failure of Farley Should Not
Terminate Efforts to Ex-
tend Limitation, Home Govern
ments Are Told in Resolution
Adopted by Delegates.
Nv the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
4 GENEVA. Switzerland. August A.
The tripartite naval conference came
70 an unsuccessful end today. After
nearly seven weeks of discussion the
delegates of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan found themselves
unable to reach an agreement on the
limitation of cruisers, destroyers and
submarines, which was the object OF
the conference.
The end came after Hugh ). Gib-
son. chief of the American delega-
u ton. had made the final address OF
the session, the conference adopting
a joint declaration adjourning the
conference sine die.
Gibson Voted Thanks.
The immediate adjournment came
after a vote of thanks had been
adopted for Mr.. Gibson, the motion
being made by w. c. Bridgeman,
chief of the British delegation, and
;, seconded by Admiral Viscount lshn
] of Japan.
last-moment effort by Great
Britain to rescue something from the
conference was made just before to-
davis nlenary session, the chief Brit
fsh delegate proposing an agreement
restricted to destroyers and sub
marines. This was declined by the
American delegation on the ground
that the United States considered the
j limitation of cruisers. destroyers and
submarines al one indivisible whole.
Mr.. Gibson made it clear that the
Americans deem the questions OF
cruisers, destroyers and submarines
fnterdependent. and called the atten-
ton of, Mr.. Bridgeman to the 1act
that he tGibsonl had repeatedly en-
phasized in his statements TO the
coriferees that no agreement on one
or two types of auxiliary warcraft was
!, possible.
He added that cruisers constituted
fhe most important element among
fhe auxiliary warcraft and declared
that anv accord confined to destroyers
and submarines would~be worthless.
= Further Study Recommended.
Mr.. Gibson then frankly told MT.
Rr;dgeman that reports were in clrcu'
lation that the British, during the
plenary session in the afternoon
Intended to present some new pro
posals. He wanted to know exactlS
whether these reports were true, be-
cause II true thev would destroy the
whole arrangements made for the
session and would necessarily modlfy
his own speech which he had pre-
irared with the idea that todays pie
nary session was to be the last.
Mr.. Bridgeman replied, it is under
stood, that the only new proposal ne
had in mind was the one he had Just
presented to Mr.. Gibson and Admiral
Saito. suggesting the adVisabiiity OF
partial agreement.
The last act of the conference was
the adoption of the loint motion OF OF
adjournment, with the declaration
that the governments of the three
tno,vers represented be invited to give
new consideration to the problems IN
iyolved. in the hope that the govern
ments would be able to reach an
early solution.
Further Efforts Urged.
In this joint declaration the con
ference also registered IT'S cohNiGtioi
that the obstacles encountered ~
Geneva should not be accepted as
terminating efforts to bring about III
/, .ture limitation of naval armamenfs.
The declaration says: ION the con
trarv. the delegates trust that tht
measure Of agreement which mas peer
reached here will make il possible fof
consultations between the govern
! roeuts to find a basis reconcilIng the
divergent views and lead to early con
ciusions of an agreement Tor lmlta
ton. OF auxiliary naval vessels WHICH
will pernit of substantial economy
and. while safeguarding national sc
curity. promote a feeling of mutua
confidence and good understanding.
Originated February 10 by Coolidge.
The tripartite naval conference
had its origin in an invitation by
President Coolidge on February II
IN Great Britain. Japan, France anc
italy TO hold conversations by which
a treaty might be framed for further
reduction Of naval armaments in ex
TENSION Of the Washington agreement
Of 1922.
The invitation was accepted both b!
Great Britain and Japan. but France
ma ItoIy. although signatories Of the
Washington agreement declined lh'
re>. venture. Ultimately they decided
"a send "obscrvers'' to the conference
which thus had developed into a tri
laltite conclaNe.
Japan accepted the invitation OF
February 20, while the British accept
ance came on February 28. In tht
British reply cordial sympathy for the
further limitation of naval armament
was expressed. AT the same time tht
note said:
THE views of his majestys govern
rrent upon the special geographica
position of the British Empire, III
length Of inter-imperial communica
+ions and the necessity for the protec
tion Of its food supplies are vel
known. and together with the specta
conditions and requirements of tn
other countries invited 70 participate 4
in the conversations must be takel
into account.
This attitude OF Great Britain o
har special geographical position wa
later To play an extremely imporJan
part i'm the conference itself since III
proposals presented by the British
delegation. which Were not acceptahi
10 the United States hinged upon thi
phase Of British naval preparation.
On June 90 the conferences opene
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