Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-15
8|NCH CRUISERS
GIVEN j. S. SCORED
BY ADMIRAL JONES
Thinks Different Settlement
at Farley Was Entirely
Possible.
REDUCTION is BLAMED
ON GREAT BRITAIN
Pratt Tells Naval Committee Pact
Suits Him and Delegates Did
Best They Could.
~ the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Two gray-haired admirals OF the
American Navy, each with upward
OF a half century of distinguished serv-
ice behind him, disagreed pointedly to-
day over the merits of the naval treaty
Of London.
Sounding the first note OF protest
from any official quarter, Rear Admiral
Hilary p. Jones, long an outstanding
figure among Navy men, told the Senate
foreign relations committee that he
not only disagreed with many OF the
decisions Of the London Conference, put
thought a different settlement would
have been entirely possible.
At the same time Admiral William V.
Pratt. commander of the battle fleet,
was advising the Senate naval COM
mittee that the treaty suited him, that
he was satisfied to have fewer 8-inch-
gun cruisers than the Navy previously
had asked and that in any case the
American delegation at London got the
best it could.
Both admirals were naval advisers at
London, but Admiral Jones left before
the conference ended because OF Illness
and he came to the committee table To-
day leaning heavily on cane. His ols-
ability did not diminish the vigor OF MS
replies to questioning Senators.
IT disagree fundamentally with Ao-
miral Pratt" he said. Il cannot I'M
derstand Admiral Pratt's position"
Borah Agrees With Jones.
Great Britain, Admiral Jones said,
ALWAYS had tried to beat down the
American strength in the 8-inch cruiS-
ers, most desired by the Navy, and at
London had brought about such a re-
duction.
The japanese cruiser strength as
against the Unitsd States under the
treaty he placed at "5-5 plus"
When the witness concluded, Chair
man Borah said that while he was not
ready to indicate whether he would
support ratification of the treaty, he
agreed with Admiral Jones In respect
to the need for more 8-inch cruisers.
Secretary Adams of the Navy, before
the foreign relations committee, again
defended the treaty today, although he
disclosed that the American delegation
at London really favored q larger al
lotment of the big 10,000-ton 8-inch
cruisers than 1t got In the final agree
ment.
Admiral Jones likewise criticized the
battleship provision, saying that France
and Italy, who had been parties TO the
Washington treaty but not to the lirni-
tations of the London pact, would not
be restricted and adding that while lit
doesn't particularly affect us, won
der what effect it may have II Great
Britain feels alarmed by building by
France and Italy"
c--.L n-o....~-~ nr~nr>l
The speed of 20 knots allowed for
the unlimited class Of ships also was
opposed by Jones. He said this speed
merce raider or submarine craft"
In each committee small group of
members continued to shower the wit
nesses with questions indicating many
doubts as to the fairness of the pact
to American naval interests.
In large measure the testimony of
both Secretary Adams and Admiral
Pratt was a repetition of that given by
them yesterday, when the Secretary
was before foreign relations and the
admiral before the naval committee
Today they had just cr-ssed the street
and exchanged witness chairs.
The foreign relations committee hear
ings are held in a large hearing room
in the Senate ONCE Building, while the
naval committee meets block away in
the Capitol itself
Secretary Adams read a prepared
statement saying he believed the treaty
advantageous to the American Navy"
because It offered the hope of parity
with Great Britain. Admiral Pratt, on
the other hand, said he had no state
ment, but was ready to answer ques-
tons.
ITO some degree it was true that we
gave up building some of the ships we
desired" said Secretary Adams. "Of
course. we made compromise. The
question is whether we made a just
compromise"
The Secretary related that the treaty
entailed a billion-dollar building pro-
gram over 10 years. but "a somewhat
n raI,