Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-12
CEC|LAND GIBSON
CONFER ON BRITISH
CRUISER PROPOSAL
England Would Increase Ton
mage Beyond 400, 900 Limit
Before 1912.
EXPERTS FAIL TO REACH
SOLUTION OF DEADLOCK
Meet Most of Night Seeking
Answer to Problem-Japanese
Chary of Estimates.

r. ihe Associated Press.
GENEVA. July 12.-Niscount Cecil
OF Chelwood. one of the British dele
gates at the naval conference, called
on Hugh Gibson. America s chief rep
resentative. today for n further discus
sion of the new British proposal. This
proposal fixes the maximum figure of
400. 900 tons for cruisers. but is accom-
panied by the condition that large
size cruisers will be reduced to the
minimum number.
1t is now understood that the Brit
ish would hope 10 keep within the
above maximum tonnage up to 1894,
or even 1886. They are unable to COM
NIT themselves further, however, and
even indicate that their building pro-
grams would probably bring the ton
mage up much higher by 1912.
The naval experts met until early
morning trying TO figure out the re-
placement effects of the British plan.
Atmosphere Less Tense.
The atmosphere of the conference
continued less tense. but apparently
solution of the cruiser deadlock has
not yet been discovered.
I'VE are more hopeful than we have
been for some time, said one of the
younger attaches of one delegation to-
day as he emerged from a meeting of
the Junior members conference which
is trying to find whether any possible
solution of the problem can be found
by approaching it from every con-
celvabIe angle. irrespective of any
thing which has gone on in the past
I'VE are in a bunker; nothing but
nblich can save u.s." was the golfing
metaphor employed today by Japa-
nese member of the committee which
has been charged with going over the
new British proposals for cruiser
limitation now before the conference.
Committee to Try Again.
This committee worked well into
the night trying TO approach the prob
lem from some new angle, but finally
separated, agreeing to have another
try today.
While finding a number of concilia |
tory suggestions in the British pro-
posalS. the Americans doubt whether !
They will really be efficacious in the
direction of effective limitation if they
only extend to 1881, as suggested.
Such a plan, the Americans believe,
entails the possibility that the lid
NAV be off" after 1881 for a renewed
race in cruiser construction.
AS announced, the British plan en-
bodies acceptance of the American
maximum total of 100000 tons for
cruisers, provided the United States
and Great Britain agree to limit the
number of 10.000-ton cruisers to about
10. The British hold that if only a
small part of the tonnage were used
sihle for Great Britain to have enough
left for the feet of small cruisers
which she contends is necessary, be
cause of the far-flunS nature OF the
empire.
Japanese Chary at Figures.
The Japanese are chary of the pre-
mise that 400, 900 tons would be the
total figure for each of the two %
ratio uowers. This would bring the
Jananese 8 plus fraction to con-
siderablv more than desired in these
davs when stringent economy is the
watchword at Toxic.
At any rate, the tension that pre-
vailed over the week end had ulsap'
neared to a large extent today, ana
AN three camps were displaying an
earnest good will to arrive al some
satisfactory solution as. speedily as
possible.
lust what will be the American
attitude il the British insist on limit
ing TO ten the number OF lo,UOo-toh
cruisers has not been diVulged, but
il is generally believed the Americans
cannot easily agree to this. 1t has
been made clear all along by the
representatives Of the United States
that their country requires con-
siderable fleet of the larger cruisers
because of the long distances TO be
covered without naval bases both on
the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Bridgeman Defends Plan.
w. c. Bridgeman. first lord of the
British admiralty. reiterated that
Great Britain had no thought of con-
testing parity with the United States,
but he did say that the defense OF
parity was a different question. In
his opinion restriction of the number
of 10.000-ton cruisers not only would
facilitate the drafting Of treaty.
hut would do much to diminish the
8 danger of war. He added:
And l sincerely hope to God there
will never be another war
- A bronzed and hearty admiral Earl
.Iellico, steamed away from Ambas-
sador Gibson on the local nine hole
golf course yesterday, negotiating it
in a perfect SO. Ambassador Gibson
required many more strokes. He re.
fused to divulge how many.
OKADA PREDICTS AGREEMENT.