The Washington times., 1930-01-21
THREE CRUISERS
STUMBLING
BLOCK
BY PIERCE MILLER
international News Service
1890. nv Internatio,

News Service)
The United States and Great
Britain came within $4,000 tons
o. reaching q complete accord on
naval parity In all categorieS Of
Warsl1ips in their preliminary
negotiations for the London naval
reduction conference, 1t was
learned here today on high
authority.
Following the face to face ses-
sion Of President Hoover and
Premier Macdonald, American
and British diplomats and naval
authorities negotiated tentative
agenda for the conference IN
which q complete accord was
reached on all but the cruiser
strength Of each country, 1t was
said.
On that point, the Americans
demanded three more lO,OOO-ton
cruisers than the British were
willing to allow. This point stu
remains unsettled as the two dele
sations gather with the diplomats
of other nations in London.
u. 8. Asked Three More
In all. the United States asked
FOR Il new fast 10,000-ton cruisers
TO place it's Navy on parity with
the British cruiser strength. The
British countered by agreeing 10
let America possess 18 fast IL, ,OOO'
ton cruisers.
When this disagreement first
arose. it was said, President
Hoover promptly showed Amer
ica's.. good faith by postponing
the building Of three cruisers al
ready authorized by CongreSS. Re
ort had it he did so in the hope
Of aiding the negotiators in reach.
ing . complete accord on cruiser
strength.
In the meantime and while this
real dispute was disturbing the
naval authorities Of both nations,
much talk was broadcast about
q disagreement over battleship
strength. The International News
Service, however, learned there
was no dispute at any time
over battleship strength, this fea-
tUre Of naval parity having been
agreed early in the negotiations.
High officials Of both nations
though look upon the temporary
deadlock over cruiser strength as
the real "bone Of contention" at
the conference.
Where Difference Was
The difference that separated
the two nations had its incubus
in Great Britain's desire to retain
10 old cruisers of the Six-inch
gun, 45,000-ton type. America at
first suggested Britain sink the
entire 10, thereby reducing the
British naval cruiser strength to
q tonnage that would necesSitate
the United States building but
is of the 1O,OOO-ton eight-inch
gun type to reach parity.
The British declined, somewhat
hurt to think a friendly nation
would so cripple the British
ability to protect far-flung COM
merce lanes. America then sug-
gested each nation be given the
option Of having 19 Of the 4,50O.
ton, Six-inch gun type (S5,OOO
tons), or six of the 1O,000-ton,
eighteinch gun type 100000 tons).
A British counter proposal was
made that each nation take
either the 10 4,S00 tonnerS or
three Of the 10000 tonnerS. Both
offers we're rejected and the dele
gates went to London on that
basis.
Must Match Britain
Neither of the alternate pro-
posals would give an arbitrary
parity to the two nations in
cruiser strength, unless both
chose the same option. AS it
appears the British will insist
upon retaining the 10 old and
lighter craft, the United States
probably will have to match them
with an arbitrary parity Of some
thing between 10000 and $4,000
tons Of modern cruisers.
The American delegation viii
be willing to accept the $4,000
ton figure as a parity" with
$500 tons of old shipping. The
British are expected to insist that
$4,000 tons or three 10000 ton
cruisers, armed with eightinch
guns, form a parity with their
10 SiX-inch gun cruisers.
In other words, the Americans
will assert it will take six eight
inch gun cruisers to- offset 10
six-inch gun cruiSerS-while the
British naval experts viii contend
three eight-inch gun cruisers oan
equal the war. strength Of 10 old
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