Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-16
English Election May Delay
Talk of Early Conference
for Some Months.
DISCUSSION is STIRRED
BY HOWARD INTERVIEW
Statement by Sir Esme Without
Official Sanction Considered
Unlikely in Extreme.

The United states and Japan VIII
both approve an early conference on
further naval limitation, it was indi-
Gated today, if a movement for such a
conference is initiated by Great Britain.
The interview given yesterday by Sir
Esme Howard, British Ambassador 10
the United States. in which he said
Ahere was reason now to believe that
further effort would be made before
the principal naval powers of the world
for naval limitation, has given an i'm
mediate impetus to the discussion in
khis country of the possibility of such a
conference.
Just how far the statement of Sir
Esme Howard Is to be regarded as a
announcement of his government Is
not yet quite clear. Certainly there
has been so far no formal representa-
tions made by the British government
10 the Government of the United States
IN regard to this matter, it was said
TODAY, The American Government Is
making no comment upon the matter:
Rather it is occupying q position OF
Watchful waiting.
That the British Ambassador would
give such an interview, however, with
out the Knowledge his government was
preparing to take some such step look
Ing toward a conference on naval limi-
tafion is considered unlikely in the
extreme.
Election May Postpone Talk.
Sir Esme Howard pointed out. how
ever, that the English election, which IS
% take place early this Summer, may
Bostpone any discussion of this matter
for some months longer. 1t is under
stood that the present government IN
Great Britain has real fight on It's
hands However. if it is successful, the
indications are it will be committed to
the proposal that something be done at
an early date about further naval linn
tkation. If the opposition comes INTO
Bower, it is understood that 1t VIII be
Inclined to move in a similar direction.
Indeed. there has been an inclination
In some quarters in this country 10 De-
lieve that the suggestion now put 1or-
ward that the British government VIII
move for naval limitation Is intended
nonewhat FOR home consumption. with
sts bearing on the election campaign.
The Labor party, which Is attacking
the Conservative government, is proTnis-
nag the British taxpayers a reductlon
~ the matter of naval expenditures.
In to New Administration.
The Hoover administration, at all
hyents. will have to deal with any pro-
fbsaI advanced for naval limitation. The
kresent administration under such cir
cumstances would be inclined to proceed
cautiously in the matter now advanced
ky the British Ambassador. But there
IS every reason to believe that the
United States would look with favor
Gbon a proposal for naval conference.
The Washington Conference OF 1921
1922, which set limitation for the
principal naval powers on capital ships,
Is to have its sequel in any event in
1891 when the powers will determine
whether the present naval treaty is TO
be continued In effect or is to be modl-
Ned in any particular
Baron Tanaka, japanese foreign min
lister, recently suggested that 1t might
- well to advance the date Of the con-
ference set for 1881.
1t is thought that the British govern
snent will propose preliminary confer
fnce to prepare for the 1881 parley when
phases of the agreement reached at the
Washington conference in 1921 come up
Tor review The number Of capital
ships and their tonnage and armament
were limited at the 1921 meeting. the
tonnage of cruisers was also limited TO
10000 tons each and their maximum
armament was limited to an 8-lnch gun,
but no restriction was placed on the
number of cruisers to be built by each
nation.
It is believed that at the next 0on-
ference a determined effort will be made
10 limit auxiliary ships and to arrive at
n different method of comparing fleet
etrength other than by tonnage figures
and gun caliber.
Willing to Advance Date.
It was considered significant that the
United States in addition to outlining its
attitude made it known that it was will
ing to advance the date of the 1891 con-
ference in case majority OF the powers
hhat ratified that pact favor such action.
sir Esme explained that his govern
nlent had not indicated its attitude
heretofore because the bill authorizing
Is cruisers and one aircraft carrier was
nending before Congress He declared
that now that this bill had become a
law that there was reason to believe
"a further effort before long Will be
made TO reach an agreement between
the principal naval powers oSthe Worlo
for the limitation of naval ornaments
He called attention to the favorable
attitude of the United States in the
past toward such a conference and
Wa10 bOoh the LEdSuB vi AsdblOAAo AldAS
it mandatory on league members to
take further steps toward armament
limitation. and declared there appeared
q much better prospect Of success thar
at the Geneva Conference in 1927
which ended in failure.
Hugh Gibson, American Ambassador
TO Belgium and the United States dele.
gate to the unsuccessful three-powel
naval parley at Geneva in 1927. is nov
on his way to the United States tC
discuss with the Washington Govern
ment its attitude in the preparatory
disarmament conference which opens IL
Geneva on April IS.
Members of the Senate foreign re-
lations committee expressed their inter
est in the statement made by Sir ESmt
Howard. Chairman Borah of that com
Haittee withheld comment. 1t is under
stood that he still feels that there mus
be q determination of the question o
the freedom of the seas and the treat
n1ent accorded neutrals during the in
'fernational conflicts before there car
be any real advance made. He spon
sored the provision in the cruiser bill
which has recently become law, lookini
to a conference on this r'atter.
Senator Swanson of Virginia, rank
ing Democratic member of the foreigl
relations committee, gave the propose
tor a further naval conference his ap
rroval 1t is his belief that there mus
be definite understanding betweel