Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-20
Ten Powers Line Up Against
U. S., France and Japan
in Support of Method.
ARTICLES ON TRANSFER
OF TONNAGE APPROVED
Action Concludes Adoption Of
Draft Making General Formula
of Pact Principles.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press
GENEVA, November 2o.-Over the
opposition Of the Americans, French
and japanese, the Disarmament Com
mission today approved employment of
the budgetary method for limiting naval
ornaments.
This principle had previously been
adopted for land war materials, al
though Hugh 8. Gibson. the American
delegate, made clear that the United
States could not accept this system for
itself.
Lord Cecil Of Great Britain, who
championed today's action, recognized
the impossibility of concluding gen.
eral convention providing budgetary
limitation for fleets unless some way
of accommodating the American and
japanese position could be found.
He declared this scheme for fixing
q maximum figure for naval expend-
itures was regarded by the British as
purely supplementary to the direct
method embodied in the Washington
and London treaties.
Ten Nations Approve Plan.
The vote for the budget limit for
navies was: Great Britain. Canada,
Russia, Ireland, Norway, Persia, Fin
land, Italy, Rumania, Holland. Against
United States, France, Japan.
The commission also concluded adop-
ton OF the naval limitation draft which
transfers the principles of the Wash
-s~.r&,~. I'D r..Goy, {raaffae s,,ko xaSa-
eral convention formula for all nations.
The articles approved today concerned
definitions. exemptions and rules for
the transfer of tonnage.
The figures In the two existing
treaties were placed In the general
draft las illustrations" of what has
been done in this direction already,
and not to bind the general conference.
The commission moved rapidly today
under q IRE Of amendments from
Maxim Litvinoff, the Russian delegate,
all aiming ct radical reduction. The
commission, however, declined TO insert
any figures except those already IN
force among the great naval powers
Completing the naval draft the COM
mission arrived at air ornaments, out
decided to reserve this for discussion
on third and final reading
Progress PIeases Gibson.
The general question Of the budgetary
limitation of all ornaments next came
up. On this subject the British sub
niitted a proposal that each of the
high contracting parties agrees that its
total annual expenditure on land, sea
and air forces In any budgetary year
shall not exceed the figures given" In
tables to be agreed upon by the
general conference
Mr. Gibson was so pleased with the
rapid progress today that he thought
the commission ought to take advantage
of 1t and hold two sessions daily, but
the others insisted one sitting was as
much as they could undertake.
The nearest to success Litvinoh came
today was in his efforts to secure more
stringent precautions against convert
ing merchant vessels into war vessels.
The article as adopted read: mo
preparation shall be made in merchant
ships In time of peace for installation Of
warlike ornaments for the purpose of
converting such ships into vessels Of
war other than the necessary stiffening
Of decks for mounting guns not exceed
ing 81 inches caliber."