The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1927-02-10
PRES. COOLIDGE
SENDS MESSAGE
TO CONGRESS
Forwards Note to Four Ma.
tions, Urging That Trea.
ties BE Negotiated
QUICK ACTION NEEDED
Proposal Made BY u. S. at
Washington Conference,
But Was Not Accepted

Washington, Feb. 10.---(R)--Oncc
more the United States has under
taken to lead the world toward
scaling down Of naval ornaments.
In note to Great Britain, France,
Italy and Japan, President Coolidge
has suggested that treaties to that
end be negotiated without delay ut
the Geneva conference.
The proposal would extend down
ward to smaller warships the limita-
tiOns imposed ut the Washington
The same proposal was made by the
United States at the Wash ington CON
ference but failed Of acceptance.
In a special message to congress
announcing what he had done, Mr..
Coolidge declared that despite the
principles laid down ut the confer
cnce here in 1921 certain powers"
have laid down far reaching naval
building programs suggesting the
shadow of another world wide race
among nations to outbuild one an
other.
The proposal is that an agreement
be made supplementing the naval
limitation treaty of Washington.
"and covering the classes Of vessels
not covered by that treaty"
The text of the note to the powers
was included in the message to con
gress. 1t said in part:
Would Extend Ratio
although hesitating at this time
to put forward rigid proposals as re-
CARDS the ratios Of naval strength
to be maintained by the different
powers. the American government,
for it's part. is disposal to accept, in
regard to those classes of vessels
not covered by the Washington
treaty, an extension of the 5-5-;
ratio as regards the United States,
Great Britain and Japan and to
leave to discussion at Geneva the
ratios of France and Italy, taking
into full account their special con-
ditions and requirements in regard
to types of vessels in question.
"Ratios for capital ships and air.
craft carriers were established by
fected in any way by the agreement
covering other classes Of ships"
The president said the American
delegates at Geneva would have full
powers to negotiate definitely re-
Rarding measures for further naval
limitation, and, If they are able to
reach an agreement with the repre-
sentatives Of the other signatories of
the Washington treaty to conclude a
convention embodying such agree
ment, in tentative or final form as
may be found practicable"
Eventually Leads to War
"The American government and
people, the president said, 'are
convinced that competitive armament
constitutes one of the most danger
Gus contributing causes Of interna-
tiOnal suspicion and discord and are
calculated eventually to lead to
war"
Despite the hope Of the United
States to complete the work of the
Washington treaty and extend limita-
tive treaties to cover cruisers, de-
stroyers and submarines. the mes
sage continued, "Farreaching building
programs have been laid down by
certain powers. and there has ap-
peared In our own country, as well
as abroad, sentiment urging naval
construction on the ground that such
construction is taking place else
where"
Actually. do not believe that
competitive building of these classes
Of ships has begun" the president
said.
He added, however, that in such
sentiments as he had referred to.
''lies the germ Of renewed naval
competition"
Deadlock Threatens
The president suggested also that
the Geneva discussions, initiated by
the League of Nations, arc threat
ened with deadlock il the powers
Continued on page three.)