Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
FRENCH ANSWERS
ST|MSON'S CRITICS
Reply to HaIe's Attack Is
Seen in His Championing
of Naval Plan.

Representative French, Republican.
of Idaho, delivered yesterday what he
described as "a necessary answer to
critics" of the American proposal for
limitation of navies announced in Lon
don on Thursday by Henry L. Stimson.
Secretary of State and chairman of the
American delegation.
Mr.. French hailed the proposal as
zone calculated to inspire confidence in
the conference and the belief that
great good will flow therefrom." His
discussion of the matter was taken as
an answer to the criticisms of Senator
Frederick Hale, Republican, of Maine.
and. in lesser way, to opposition pre-
sented in the press"
Representative Garner of Texas.
Democratic leader of the House. pointed
to criticism Friday by Senator Bora h
Republican. Idaho and other Senators
on the position outlined by StimsCn.
He deplored any "heckling and criticism"
of the Conference until it has concluded
its work.
CIear-Cut Outline i Lauded.
In response to a question by Garner.
French said he asked for time to adj
CTlIlClST0
that ought not 20 have been made" He
described the Stimson statement as a
"clear-cut outline of a possible agree
ment on naval tonnage as it concerns
the United States"
Were the results Of the conference
to crystalline so far as the United
States may be concerned in a program
substantially indicated by the state
ment. definiteness would be written
into naval programs, which, after all
as I see 1t, is the cardinal, the funda-
mental principle that is at stake.
More than that, adoption of the
program would prevent expansion OF
naval establishments. These two con-
Siderations would mark progress of in
calculable Importance in the considera-
ton Of the problem of naval strength
of world powers.
"The effective tonnage of battleships
aircraft carriers, cruisers, destroyers and
submarines of the United States-built
building and appropriated for-is l.
24l ,522 tons.
I'm addition to this, the United
States has authorized FIVE cruisers OF
$4,000 tons and we have obsolete
cruisers in the amount of 5,5Ol tons
obsolete deStroyerS in the amount OF
1881 tons and obsolete submarines
with a tonnage of 5,246. Also, the
Washington Conference permits air.
craft carrier tonnage for which the
Congress has not authorized construc-
ton, in the amount of 49,914 tons
Battleship tonnage measured by stand
ard displacement is 1000 tons under
our allowance at the Washington Con-
| ference.
approximately Present Total.
Turning to the statement of Secre-
tary of State Stimson the gross ton
mage is suggested for the United States
OF 100000 tons and the same fol-
| Great Britain.
In brief, that tonnage is approx
mately the present effective tonnage OF
both Great Britain and the United
| States
Should the proposal be adhered to
Ia the form presented, 1t would accom-
plish the following
7 /. 1t would write definiteness into
naval construction programs.
| g.. 1t would reduce the battleship ton
mage by subtracting 8 .battleships with
laf6ns. ~ '''OVO 70 SO'OO'
| s. 1t would AK the 10 .00O-ton cruiser
strength Of the United States at i80,-
1000 tons, with Is cruisers carving 8.
| inch guns and cruisers Of smaller ton
mage Sufnclent TO make grand tota
of $4,000 tons.
4. It would FIX the 1O,000-ton cruiser
strength of Great Britain at 100000
tons, with Is cruisers carrying s-incf
guns and an additional tonnage o.
smaller cruisers that would make {
grand total of $3.50 tons.
S. 1t proposes q total abolition Of
submarines under certain conditions
and that in any event the operations
of submarines be limited to the sam,
rules of international law as surface
craft in operation against merchan
ships so that they cannot attack with
out providing for the safety Of passen
gers and crew.
II could hope. upon further delibera
| ton, all parties to the London Con
ference could agree to lower tonnage Ii
the several categories in the interest o
reduction in naval budgets. If the!
| cannot. then could hope that TIT
! proposition outlined by Col. Stimsor
might be attained.