Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-17
OUTLINES NAVAL
SAFEGUARD PLAN
Robinson Issues Statement,
Prospects of Signing
Tuesday Are Dark.

! LONDON. April 17.-Senator Joseph
| T. Robinson, member of the American
delegation to the naval conference, this
afternoon issued statement outlining
the terms of the safeguarding clause in
the naval treaty. His statement read:
THE so-called safeguarding clause in
the naval treaty will provide in general
that If during the term of the treaty
! the requirements of national security of
am of the three powers whose auxiliary
vessels are limited are. in the opinion
of that power, materially affected by
new construction by any nation whose
, auxiliary program is not limited by the
treaty, that power will notify the other
two of the amount and kind of build
ing it requires. Thereupon those other
powers shall be entitled to make a pro-
portionate increase in the same cate
CORY or categories.
Since the limitation of armament is
voluntary process which no sovereign
power has the right to enforce on an
other, it is wise in principlS to enter
into this arrangement, for by so doing
We avoid responsibility for insisting that
any other nation must have its hands
tied in possible emergency.
Delegation Reported in Accord
This clause does not follow articSs
81 of the Washington treaty, which /
objected to when 1t was entered into
On the ground that 1t might entangle us
in European naval problems and poll
cies. While 1t is to be hoped that no
situation will arise under which any of
the three powers may find it necessary
to increase their tonnage of auxiliary
vessels, prudence calls for provision for
such contingency.
"If a real emergency should arise,
should want the United States to be
free to act without the consent of
others, and, of course, we must concede
the same right to them. 1t is desirable
that those who limit their means of de-
Tense should feel safe in that limita-
ton. Otherwise they would not continue
the process of limitation"
Information at American headquar-
tiers today was to the effect that all the
members of the American delegation arc
in agreement on the specifications OF
the safeguarding clause as outlined by
Senator Robinson.
NOT Almeu AT COmDtnablOHs
Philip Snowden, chancellor of the ex-
cheQuer, announced that the so-called
safeguarding clause" in the three
power naval treaty would not be aimed
at any special fleet or combination of
fleets.
First Lord of the Admiralty Alex
ander, answering Commons question
regarding the Singapore Naval Base,
said the situation there would require
a careful review Gin the light of the
treaty which we are hoping will be
signed shortly by all the powers repre-
sented at the Naval Conference"
The review. he said, would be under
taken with as little delay as possible
and in full consultation with the over
seas governments of the British COM
monwealth concerned.
There was great deal of hope but
little prospect today that the conference
would be concluded Tuesday and that
the treaty draft could be completed and
made ready for signature by that time.
Unless the work is finished the Amer
lean delegation, save about % members
of the encourage who need not stay, will
not be able to take the Leviathan We'd
nesday morning for New York, and
must wait over in England for some
time further, probably, since 1t is
wished to use ship flying the United
States flag, for another week.
British spokesman particularly are
pessimistic that the plenary session can
be held Tuesday, Ramsay Macdonald,
arriving by airplane yesterday at Lossie
mouth, Scotland, for his Easter vacation,
told reporters.
st may go back to London tomorrow
or the day after-it all depends-but at
the moment 1 expect to be here 10
days" Ten days from Wednesday would
be April IS, Saturday of next week.
From the remark some deduced signing
of the treaty might be delayed even an
other week.
Text Of Clause Rephrased.
centered on the preamble to the treaty
and the safeguarding or "escalator''
clause to be included in the treaty, by
which Great Britain will protect her
self against continental naval building
programs.
The japanese, in a meeting with Sec
rotary StimSon and Senator Reed yes
terday, agreed to the clause in principle,
but reworded the text, the revised form
being sent to Mr.. Macdonald in Scot
land for his approval.
The Importance which the British
attach to this safeguarding clause was
regarded by some as indicated with the
stress laid upon it in white paper
given the House of Commons by Foreign
Minister Arthur Henderson. The white
paper. which discussed the conference
accomplishments at some length, listing
its failures as we'll as successes, said that
the limitation treaty is to carry clause
safeguarding our position in relation to
the building programs of other powers"
It was added: ut must be noted, how
ever, that the figure of 10000 tons of
destroyers for the British commonwealth
of nations must be conditional on the
agreed destroyer and submarine
strength of the European powers rep
resented at the London Conference. This
will be subject to further negotiations
with the powers concerned"