Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-06-20

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blatant value would be grouped in 8
tourth class whose restrictions would
be subject TO future agreement.
Would BE Coterminous.
The American plan, if adopted by
the powers would be coterminous
with the Washington treaty, which
runs until 1886. and thereafter for q
period of two years after any sigma
tory gives notice of intention tt
abrogate
Minister Gibson explained a provi
sion of the new proposal which stipu
lates period of transition from pres
ent cruiser, destroyer and submarine
strength to the limitation set forth
in his plan. During the period, which
would be an indefinite number OF
years but certainly ending before ex
piration of the treaty, cruiser and de-
| Stroyer strength would be combined
but the excess above the $50 900 tons
total prescribed for Great Britain and
the United States and the $50, 900 tons
! or Japan in the limitation plan
would be strapped.
The arrangement was included to
obviate wholesale scrapping by the
United States. for example, of it's pre-.
| elEIitS VA tlSSiIONe IS Willie peIllS
deficient in cruisers. Under the plan
the transition period would be en-
| ployed by the powers to pare down
or build up their cruisers or destl oy-
ers to fit the limitations scale. 1t was
not expected that the conference
would attempt to limit the duration of
the transition period. inasmuch as the
| deciding factor so far as time was
concerned would be the congressional.
| parliamentary decision upon hte nee
essary appropriations.
Voluntary scrapping of obsolete
ships would be permitted, but re-
placements could not be made until
the time limit of service of each
class of vessel was reached. In the
case of cruisers, 20 years would be
fixed as the effective age limit. Is to
II years for destroyers and IL to 13
years for submarines.
Safety Clause Inserted.
The proposal as revised just before
the conference opened, contains this
proviso:
1T might be desirable to provide
for the possibility of reconsideration
in the event that requirements Of ma
tlonal security of any contracting
power in respect of naval defense are,
in the opinion of that power, materi-
ally affected by any change of cir
cumStances."
The clause was looked upon as pro-
viding safety element by which any
of the contracting powers could re-
move itself from the restrictions of
the agreement should any neighboring
power launch naval building pro-
gram of suspiciously formidable size.
In his preliminary. address, Ambas-
Sador Gibson expressed confidence that
I'VE can start with assured agreement
on the following points:
That in the interest of interna-
tional understanding there should be
no competition between the three DOW.
ers in the building of naval arma.
ments;
THAT our respective navies should
be maintained at the lowest level com.
patlble with national security and
should never be of size or character
to warrant the suspicion of aggressive
intent;
That wise economy in Govern
ment dictates that future naval con.
structlon should be kept to a mini
mum;
THAT the methods and principles
OF limitation set forth in the Washing
ton treat are both effective and should
be extended to all categories of com.
blatant vessels of the three powers"
Reads Presidents Message.
Ambassador Gibson's first official
utterance to the conference was the
reading of message to the delegates
from President Coolidge.
Il am deeply gratified," the mes.
sage said, that the representative of
"a Hfre nd - To-
meeting with the4AfepreSAntafives OF
the United States to consider measures
for the further limitation of naval
ornaments through the extension of
the principles of the Washington
treaty.
can agreement rendering impossi-
BILE any form of naval competition be-
tween the three powers will have a
lasting influence in cementing the
present relations. of good understa nd
ing between the three countries and
constitute a definite step in advance
toward the common objective of a
general limitation Of ornaments.
Please assure the representatives of
the British Empire and Of Japan that
am only interpreting the overwhelm-
ing sentiment of the American people
in stating that the United States will
do its utmost to make such an agree.
ment possible.
Ambassador Gibson declared that
the replies of Great Britain and Japan
to the Presidents proposal and the
presence in Geneva of their repre-
sentatives emphasized that they
shared Mr.. Coolidge's hopes and de-
sires.
Predicts Satisfactory Solution.
"Our work." he said, lis thus begin.
ming under favorable conditions and
we are fully justified in feeling that
with a common purpose, a common in
terest and mutual good will we shall
| find a satisfactory solution to the
| problem which has been intrusted
| to us.
II am sure that voice the feeling
| of all the members of the conference
| in expressing regret that all the pow
ers parties to the Washington treaty
| have not felt that they could partici-
| pate fully in our work. We have no
| doubt, however, that both France and
| Italy share our desire that naval
| building programs should be limited
and am confident that the result of
| our work here will be of a character
| to facilitate their future cooperation
| with us in a task which the five
| powers initiated and which I trust
| will be carried forward by the five
powers as a common enterprise in the
| interest of peace"
The deliberations of the conference.
Mr.. Gibson declared, will have a
far-reaching influence, as they will
serve to determine not only the
| feasibility Of further progress in
naval limitation, but will also have an
| important bearing upon the prac'
ticability of the endeavor to deal with
the general problem Of ornaments.
| I'VE must recognize that we are
/ i. L.