Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-13
Continued From First Page.)

building operations of a fourth power
LAS far as the United States, Great
Britain and Japan are concerned there
was no need of such q clause" said Sec
rotary Stimson. But Great Britain
was faced with the fact that no COM
plete naval limitation agreement has
| yet been reached with France and Italy
| Manifestly, 1t was unfair to Great
| Britain to provide for limitation unless
some adjustment was permitted In the
event that an outside power should be-
gin large naval building operations"
Mr.. Stifnson said that the United
States would be free to build just as
Great Britain or Japan would be free
under this clause If the United States
should determine that its security was
threatened by an increase In the navy
of some outside power. He said that
| public opinion, which has sanctioned
the naval limitation treaty would not
permit "any light breaking Of the treaty
under this clause"
Each Nation Determines.
Zach nation will determine for itself
whether it is to build further under this
clause then" said Senator Borah.
Mr. Stifnson said that was correct.
Senator Swanson of Virginia asked
Mr.. Stimson II he knew Of any intended
| which would bring Great Britain In the
near future to make use Of the so-called
| escape clause"
Secretary Stimson said that he did
not, although he would rather discuss
| the matter in executive session than In
a public hearing.
Earlier in the hearing today Senator
| Swanson interrupted Mr.. Stimson to
| ask whether the American delegation
| in arriving at parity with Great Britain
had taken into consideration only the
combat purposes of the two fleets or
had also considered the need Of pro-
tecting American commerce.
Considered Both Phases.
Secretary stimson replied that the
| DELEGATION had estimated the combat
powers Of the two navies, but that 1t
| had also considered the protection to
commerce.
Senator Robinson Of Arkansas de-
| clared that the protection OF commerce
was irseparable from the consideration
Of the use of the Navy in war.
It was at this point that Senator Rob-
| insen of Indiana, raised the question as
to whether there has been any corlsid-
| Grafton in arriving at parity between
Great Britain and the United States, the
superiority of Great Britain in mer-
chant marine had been given attention
Senator Robinson Of Arkansas turned
to his colleague from Indiana and
asked If he was suggesting that In or
der to have parity the United States
must have o larger Navy than Great
Britain.
Robinsons In Tilt.
"If So" asked Senator Robinson OF
Arkansas, Gust how many cruisers
would we need to offset the merchant
marine superiority Of the British?"
II do not know" replied Senator
| Robinson Of Indiana.
| Then, suggest you make that CAL
culation," said Senator Robinson Of
Arkansas.
II have made It," said Senator Rob-
inson of Indiana.
The interchange between the two
ended there and Secretary Stimson
went ahead with his discussion Of the
treaty, taking up each category of naval
vessels and showing how the American
and British navies would be on par
under the treaty.
Treaty Provisions.
Mr.. stimson pointed out that the
treaty provides for 10 10,000-ton,
S-inch.gun cruisers for the United
| States and IS for Great Britain. This,
| he said, was almost the same ratio Tor
cruisers of this type provided for under
the legislative program OF both coun-
| tries without the naval limitation treaty.
He pointed out that the United States
program had called. for 23 such cruisers
and the British for 10.
There has been q tendency in some
quarters to say that the United States
wants only cruisers carrying 8-inch guns
and of 10000 TONS" continued Secre-
'Yet, in 1915. when there was no
| restriction on naval construction and
the World War was on, we chose to
build 10 cruisers carrying 6-inch guns.
Arrived at by Action.
/ Mr.. Stimson said that the 8-inch
gun cruiser had really been arrived ct
| by action. At the time Of the Wash
| ington Naval Conference, he said, the
British were building four cruisers with
| tx inch guns. The British wished to
prevent these cruisers from being out
lawed by the Washington treaty and
| at their instance cruisers were limited
in the Washington treaty to 8-inch
guns and 10000 tons. Up to that time
of all the modern cruisers none OF them
carried guns over inches in caliber.
Senator Tess Of Ohio asked II that
was matter Of choice.
Rather q matter Of evolution" re-
piled Mr.. Stimson.
THAT was IL years ago." remarked
| Senator Robinson Of Indiana, referring
to q decision Of the United States at
that time to build ten 6-inch-gun
cruisers. He added that now since the
battleships had practically become OBJ
solete, the 8-inch gun cruisers Of 10000
tons were expected to take their place.
Battleships Not Obsolete.
Secretary Stimson fatty dened that
the battleship had become obsolete. He
denied, too, that the S-inch-gun cruiser
could take the place of the battleship.
He pointed out that the Navy Board of
the United States placed its faith in
battleships.
Senator Robinson Of Indiana inter-
rupted further:
| HIsn't it so that we need s-inch gur
cruisers and do not need 6-inch gun
! cruisers?"
Mr.. Stimson said he would come to
that. Mr.. Stimson said that 1t was un-
der the spur of competition that the
United States began building e-inch
| min crt,feara IJa eafd that the hAttlnahin