Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-17
Increase in Ratio From 60 to
70 Per Cent Likely to
Be Requested.
SUGGESTED 8-lNCH TYPE
OF CRUISERS INVOLVED
English Opinion Approves Tenta-
tive Tonnage as Revealed by
Macdonald to Press.
BY the Associated Press.

by the ASSOCAhtS0 6ASSS'
TOXIC, September 17.-Publicatlon
In London of an authoritative outline
of the present status of the Anglo
American cruiser negotiations mas
focused Japanese attention on the d,f-
ference in the maximums for Great
Britain and the United States respec-
lively and the suggested American b
inch gun cruiser strength.
Responsible officials declined to COM
ment on this point publicly, but 1t was
strongly indicated in high official quar-
ters that Japan considers this the crux
of her limitation problem.
Japan Is likely to insist that the
American strength be considered the
standard by which Japan's relative
strength in 8-inch gun cruisers would
be determined and also that Japan pe
allotted 10 per cent instead OF the
present 60 per cent now prevailing IN
the battleship class.
British Maximum Debated.
If the British maximum Of 146,8oO
of 8-inch gun cruisers were the stand
IQ. O~E
to build beyond her present program,
which would give her 106, 400 tons OF
S-inch gun cruisers before 1882, IN
Guiding four of the Furutaca class OF
7.1OO tons each and eight OF the Nacnl
class of 10000 tons each, four OF wnlcn
have been completed.
If Japan insists on 70 per cent OF
the American tonnage this would mean
two 1O,O0O-ton cruisers beyond tne
present program should the United
States be limited to 18, and four shoulo
the United States be limited to 81:
It was authoritatively indicated that
in order to gain this point Japan was
ready to scrap portion Of her present
80 1000 tons of smaller modern cruisers.
People Want Economy.
In circles outside of the navy there
Is strong general desire to avoid
further cruiser construction because OF
the present financial stringency and
consequently there was considerable
disappointment in the cruiser maxi
NUNS as sveutlined In Lond0h.rS Onptne:
other hand, the Associated Press was
reliably informed that naval Leaders
would gladly accept naXimumS per-
mitting Japan to build two OF the TOUR
cruisers of the projected program made
public last month.
,Japan's first step in the new move
ment for naval disarmament was an
nounced today when the navy ministry
ordered Comdr. Tanon Yamagucnl OF
the navy general staff, to proceed 10
Washington to join the Japanese EN-.
bassy staff there, preparatory 10 the
proposed conference for naval llmlta-
ton. Comdr. Yamaguchi will sail from
Japan September 81.
Yesterdays authoritative survey was
received here in official quarters WIN
out surprise, since the japanese Am
bassador in London, thoroughly advised
of the progress of the MacDonald"
Dawes conversations, has kept the gov
ernment fully informed.
Cabinet Discusses Issue.
The cabinets regular meeting this
morning was largely occupied with the
naval question, on which Admiral Taxa
rabe. minister of marine, made re-
port. The outcome of the cabinets de-
iiberationS was not divulged. After the
cabinet meeting Premier Hamagucm
conferred with the minister OF marine
The afternoon papers published what
purported to be an outline OF Admlral
Takarabe's statement before the canl-
net. which authoritative quarters in
close contact with him partially con-
firmed. The minister of marine was re-
ported to have said that Japan was pre-
pared to consider favorably extension
of the capital ship holiday until 1895,
and that Japan must consider the
American first-claSs cruiser strength, II
carrying 8-inch guns, as the standard
for her claim to 10 per cent ratio.
Favors Submarines.
Hence Japan would build two cruisers
beyond her current program If the
American limit is placed at 1S 10000
ton cruisers, or 4 cruisers beyond the
program If the American limit Is set at
81 10,0o0-ton cruisers.
Japan is willing to scrap approxi-
mately 1900 tons Of destroyers, leav-
ing her 1000 tons If the Anglo
American limit is f1xeu at 150, 1000 tons.
Japan is opposed to the abolition or
drastic reduction Of submarines, which
she considers the most effective weapon
against superior fleet.
--x-.~~y rvavr q nunrDAM