The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-07-15
NEWS review OF
CURRENT EVENTS
United States and Japan
Oppose British Cruiser
Demands.
BY EDWARD w. PIcKARD

by EOVfAhD
N RITTANIA rules the waves, and
ID she intends to go on ruling them,
if the efforts and arguments of her
representatives at the Geneva naval
limitation conference are true indi-
cation Of the national spirit. Last
week the conferees devoted them
selves to the subject. of cruisers,
earnestly discussing the conclusions
reached by the naval experts and. at
this writing, having reached nothing
like an agreement. AS was explained
a week ago, the British demanded
minimum of 100000 tons of cruisers,
most of them preferably below 1850
tons each, on the ground that their
worldwide commerce lanes and their
need of protecting the home food sup
ply required this, and evidently be-
cause their innumerabie naval bases
would enable the vessels of restricted
cruising radius to operate anywhere.
America wanted the limit put at $780,
600 tons and said the United States
needed vessels of 10000 tonnage, not
having adequate naval bases abroad.
Her delegates, however, in the effort
to make the conference success, Of
fered tentatively to make the maximum
limit 100000 tons.
Then the Japanese, who previously
had supported the British desire to
have the battleship program revised,
surprised every one by coming out
strongly against the British cruiser de-
mands. Having received cabled in
structions from Tokyo. Admiral Saito
announced that the original minimum
American figures of 250,00O tons as the
maximum cruiser tonnage for America
and Britain were quite. acceptable to
Japan. At the same time he declared
the British figures, totaling approx
mately 100000 tons, are out of the
question so far as the Tokyo govern
ment is concerned.
Japan is anxious to achieve a real
reduction and limitation of arma-
ments." Admiral Saito said. 1--WE find
the figures in the American plan most
reasonable. Japan believes the mini
mum American figures should be
adopted rather than the higher ton
mage, which. by promoting construc-
ton, would increase ornaments. The
other suggestions of vastly larger ton
mage, which would require the other
interested powers to build up to these
high levels, would defeat the purpose
Of the conference"
I'VE would never dare get off the
boat in Japan if we accepted the Brit
ish scheme" one Japanese delegate
said
Much taken aback, the British dele
gates said they would look over their
figures again to see what possible al
terations could be made with view,
to further discussions.
Observers in Geneva and official
Washington see in the British demand
for at least $4,000 tons of cruisers a
manifestation of the British insistence
on preserving the mastery of the seas.
Lord Robert Cecil and his colleagues,
they say. are convinced that, though
America would be granted parity with
England, our congress would not per-
NIT the building of so large an Ameri-
can navy for reasons of economy and
because the United States has no fear
OF war with Great Britain. Indeed,
Viscount Cecil said as much last week.
America does not fear us; America
knows there is no possibility of war
with Great Britain-then why does
Washington insist on limiting our
navy below the strength the admiralty
states we reQuire?' he said. 1--WE must
have the cruisers we demand. The
admiralty insists they are essential to
our defense" Concerning the United
States demand for 1O,00O-ton cruisers.
he asked: "But why does America
need these boats? What possible DO
tential enemy can she have in mind
for such weapons?'
In the experts sessions concerning
submarines the United States won
when Great Britain's efforts TO have
21-inch caliber torpedoes reduced were
rejected and the Anglo-Japanese pro-
posals to divide submarines into two