Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-07
Americas Naval PROPOSAL.

Secretary StimsonS statement of the
American position on naval limitation
at the London Conference signalizes
a real step forward. The American
delegation, in It's discussions with the
British and the Japanese, has been
able to come within striking distance
of actual tonnage figures as a basis
of agreement. The announcement of
Mr.. Stimson, therefore, is received in
this country as an indication that real
progress is being made in London.
From Mr.. Stimson's own statement
and from the interpretative reports of
observers now in London, it is clear
that the vexed cruiser problem, which
has done more than anything else to
keep the United States and Great Brit
ain apart on a naval agreement, has
finally been adjusted. 1t looks to abb
solute parity between the two countries
in cruiser strength, either through a
superiority on the part of the United
States in cruisers of the 10,00o-ton
type carrying 8-inch guns and superb
ority on the part of Great Britain in
cruisers Of lesser tonnage, or on exact
duplication of the two nations Of each
others cruiser feet. The Americans
have held out for the larger type
cruisers, believing they fitted American
needs for defense better than the
smaller cruisers, while the British have
urged the need Of the smaller cruisers.
Under the arrangement now proposed
by the American delegation at the
conference, the United States is to
have eighteen of these 10,0o0-ton cruisers
to fifteen for Britain, and the latter is
to have a preponderance in the smaller
cruiser tonnage, although an excess OF
only $4,000 tons over American total
cruiser tonnage.
The proposal set forth by the United
States provides naval limitation rather
than naval reduction, although it con-
templates an early reduction of battle
ships of the British and American
navies to fifteen each. The thought is ad-
vanced, however, that once an agree
ment for limitation has actually be-
come effective, with parity established
between this country and Britain and
a ratio acceptable to Japan, reduction
will follow. Owing to the failure of
the United States to build cruisers this
country fell far behind Britain in that
type of vessels and the SIS ratio with
Japan, so far as cruisers are concerned,
had Become mere myth.
Mr. Stinson has said that the Amer
lean proposal to the japanese would
produce an overall satisfactory to us
and, we hope, to them" This proposal
does not rest upon the same ratio in
every class of ship, but that is not
departure from the past relations be-
tween this country and Japan. 1t is
reported that Japan would have twelve
1O,OO0-ton cruisers under the proposal
of the American delegation, or sixty
per cent of the American strength. The
Japanese have commended in the past for
seventy per cent, but there is reason
to believe that the delegations in Lon
don have been able to reach basis
which may make possible an agreement
based on the Stimson proposal.
The American delegation, while it has
informed the French and the Italian
delegations of its proposals to the Brit
sh and the Japanese, has not made
so far any proposals to them, feel
ing that those nations have prob
lens of their own which they must
solve Indeed, these problems are
of vital interest in connection with
the final decision Of the British in
the matter of naval armament, and
unless these problems can be solved
satisfactorily it may not be possible
for the proposals now advanced by the
American delegation to be finally agreed
to. The world will await with increased
interest the progress of negotiations
affecting the French, italian and Brit
ish problems in the Mediterranean
Sea.