Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-19
SEEK 5-5-s RATIO.
Z. 8. Delegation Will Ask Extending
of Washington Farley Plan.

Inc American delegafl0n TO the
three-power naval conference, sched-
uled to open in Geneva Monday after.
noon, will seek primarily to have the
5-5-3 ratio adopted for capital ships
and airplane carriers at the Washing
ton arms conference extended to COW
er cruisers, other auxiliaries and SUBJ
marines.
While the precise terms of Ameri-
cas- proposals remain to be disclosed,
the understanding is that Ambassador
Gibson's instructions, among other
things are to oppose reduction OF the
capital ship tonnage and the maxi
mum cruiser tonnage agreed upon at
the Washington conference. From
British sources have come hints that
Great Britain and probably Japan
are willing to reduce the tonnage of
capital ships to 10000 tons and to
favor limitation as low as 5000 tons
on light cruisers, with six-inch guns
the limit for the latter
In this connection American experts
point out that six.inch guns can be
mounted on merchant ships, OF which
Britain has a great preponderance,
while guns OF S-inch caliber prescribed
by the Washington naval treaty are
too heavy for merchantmen.
u. 8. Has Lever.
There are indications. also. that the
United States is prepared, If need be-,
TO accept a cruiser ratio equal 10
Great Britain's present superior ton
mage, which would entail a very con-
siderable building program by our
Government in addition to the eight
10 o00.ton cruisers now building or
contracted for. Americas right under
the suggested ratio of 1922 to build
modern cruisers of an aggregate ton
mage greater than she will have when
the eight cruisers are commissioned,
gives Amba ksador Gibson and his asso-
ciates at Geneva a strong lever in dis
cussing the cruiser problem with the
British and Japanese delegates.
The United States is prepared to
make concessions, but wants an
agreement on tonnage of the several
auxiliary classes beyond which the
powers will not go. In other words
president Coolidge is anxious to see
the three governments definitely com
mitted to a fixed tonnage limit on
cruisers destroyers and submarines
with view TO avoiding competitive
building in these types, just as they
agreed TO a fixed tonnage in capital
ships and airplane carriers.
LANAI Out Of 1JlScuSS1Ons
Washington officials are pleased over
publication of a fat statement on be
half of the Japanese delegation that
the question of internationaliZing tne
Panama Canal and limiting fortifica
tions in Hawaii will not be brought
up by Japan. For some time past in
timations from Japan indivated {
desire to bring these matters into dis
cussion, as well as the British nava
base at Singapore. At the State De
partment il was declared withou
equivocation that the Canal Zone ant
Hawaii will not figure in the discus
sion In any way.
The United States has large mum
ber of destroyers finished during tn
World War and shortly thereafte
tied up in navy yards and elsewher
and is prepared to scrap hundreds o
them as a concrete concession in tn
interest OF an agreement extending
the understanding written into tn
Washington treaty Likewise III
United States has an excess of second
line and comparatively small coast d.
fensa subma rines that will be sent I
the scrap pile for an adequate qui
PRO @No.
Whan Mr.. Gibson sailed from tn
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