The Washington times., 1929-12-20
STAND
0 n n AVIES
FAVORSU 6.
(continneA Fyon. PaRs -

thrown On the rocks By Anglo
American cruiser differences.
IN London next month -
promises to be different.
The Hoover Macdonald con-
ferences here IN October sealed
and disposed Of the controversial
parity issue In all classes Of
naval armament, and there only
remains details OF the cruiser
agreement to be worked out.
The Stimaon Wakats1h con,
fcrences here this week similarly
disposed Of most Of the questions
between the United States and
Japan, and disclosed the policies
Of both countries to be running
along parallel lines.
There are, Of course, Q multi
tvde Of. details to be worked out
with both Great Britain and
Japan, but the significant fact
was emphasized today that for
the first time IN the history Of
such conferences there are no
outstanding major controversies
to overcome,
Question Of Numbers
The principal detail Of the
AnRIo-American agreement yet to
be settled Is whether the United
States win have 21 or 10 Of the
l0,OOO-ton eight-inch cruisers to
offset Great Britain's superiority
IN total tonnage.
Between the United States and
Japan there Is the question OF
whether Japan Is to have 70 per
cent or so per cent of American
naval auxiliary strength.
ON AL other important queS-
tions there II already substantial
agreement.
Thus. the American delegates
win be In q position to act as
firemen is Franc0-Italian, or
Franco-Briti differences threat
en- to send the conference up in
smoke. That there is q real
danger Of this Is well recognized
In washington.
All Of the powers have been In
agreement for several years on Q
building holiday for capital ships:
hence, the solemn announcement
by Reijiro WakatSuki, head OF the
Japanese delegation, In New York,
that Japan would propose a five
year holiday only caused smiles
here. There viii be more than Q
building holiday In capital ships
discussed at London there viii
be discussed the possibility OF
abolishing capital ships entirely.
Nome Being Built
There Is not now being built
In any shipyard in the world q
single battleship. and no country
Is projecting or planning one,
according to the Navy Intelli.
gence Bureau here. That con-
StituteS somewhat eloquent testi-
mony to the minimum Importance
which the great powers are now
attaching to battleships.
Meanwhile, the calm Of the ap-
preaching Yuletide apparently set
tied over the State Department,
which has been mighty wrought up
for days over the rumors that
filled washington Of dissension
among the American delegates,
and covert charges that the Sec
retary Of the Navy, Charles Fran
els Adams. was being ignored"
In the Stimson-W Wakatsuki pour.
parlerS.
These rlmors and charges clll-
minated In the washington Post
editorially suggesting to Secre-
tary Stimson that Secretary
Adams be declared In on the con-
ferenceg 10 speak Tor the Navy,
and 6timSon responded with one
OF ti1e most remarkable state
ments ever eEnanting from q
Secretary Of Etaoa. ne fatty
accused the Post oe trying to
create discord In the American
delegation, and of trying to scut-
tie the London Conferences shin
before II sailed.
TO this blast, the Post came
back today with the statement
that It was sorry II its high
praise Of Secretary Adams has
caused acute pain and humilia-
ton to the Secretary of state"
but declared It was unable 70
withdraw the opinion that secre.
tary Adams knows more about
the Navy than any other
delegate
The capitals large diplomatic
colony has been closely follow.
ing the swar'' between the state
Department and It's critics. and
the ambassadors and ministers
have been cabling copious ex.
tracts to their home foreign
Offices.