Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-02
Action Seen as Serious Effort
to End Differences on ReIa-
tive Strength in 10000
Ton Ships.
SMALLER SIZED CRAFT
WOULD BE SUBSTITUTED
Proportion Believed Offered Under
Proposal Set at so Instead of 20
Per Cent, But No Official Com
ment Comes from Headquarters
of Delegations.
BY THEODORE c. wALLEN.

BY THEODORE C. WALLEN.
BY Gable to The Star.
LONDON, February LIN an
effort to resolve the big cruiser
difference between the United
States, Great Britain and Japan,
propositions have been made to
the Japanese delegation here
which are receiving significantly
serious consideration, according
to highly responsible source at
the Five-Power Naval Conference.
AS neither the Americans nor
the British favor Japan's stand
for a heavy cruiser strength 20
per cent of that of the United
States, Reijiro WakatSuki and the
other members of the Japanese
delegation have been asked to en-
terrain proposal to accept so
per cent in this class in return
for a larger proportion of small
cruisers.
Thus the so per cent ratio
allowed to Japan in the washing
ton capital ship treaty of 1922 has
been extended to her 10000 ton
cruisers as well.
The 10,000-ton cruiser, known
also as the eight-inch gun cruiser,
is the largest type of fighting
ship unrestricted at Washington,
limitation of which is sought by
the present conference of the five
greatest naval powers. With the
United States asking 81 and Great
Britain Is, Japan would have vir-
tual parity with Britain in that
class, unless Japan modified her
70 per cent demand or the United
States scaled down her own re-
quirementS. It largely explains
the interest of the United States
in persuading Japan to take go
per cent.
No OhiciaI Comment.
At this stage of the proceedings it is
out Of the question to get any official
comment from the Americans or Brit
ish delegation, and much less from the
Japanese. whose delegation all along
has been insisting it would stand pat.
1t can be said, however, that all indi-
cations point to the correctness of the
report that Japan is at least entertain
ing the proposition. It would allow her
rs per cent in the principal light
cruiser feet, or an additional five or
six ships in that class.
This said, the details can only be
surmised. With Great Britain,s "irre-
ducible minimum" program. calling for
35 light cruisers Of about 10000 tons,
as well as Is heavy cruisers, Japan's
ratio of light cruisers based on the
British strength would be IS and a
fraction.
Japan at present has 81 modern light
cruisers displacing $4,000 tons, not to
mention nine antiquated second-line
cruisers Of $1,000 tons. these dating as
far back as 1895 and being similar to
those Just disposed Of by the United
States.
Assuming that the Franco-Italian Sit
uation permitted Great Britain to stand
on her present cruiser program, the
relative cruiser strength of the three
largest navies might conceivably be:
Size of Navies.
United States, 81 big cruisers with
one hundred and ninety 8-inch guns /;
Is light cruisers; total, 100000 tons.
Great Britain, II big cruisers with
one hundred and twenty seven 8-inch
guns; IS light cruisers; total, $4,000
tons.
Japan 10 big cruisers with one hum
dred and four 8-inch guns; 80 light
cruisers; total, 10000
Four japanese light cruisers, how
ever, are in a class of their own, dis
placing TOO tons apiece and carrying
six 8-inch guns. Thus she would act
ually have fourteen 8-inch gun ships
only 10 of which displaced 10000 tons
each
The list includes four of the British
Hawkins class around $500 tons and
substitutes 8-inch guns for their
tWenty-seven rs guns, and also in
cludes two 8,400 tonners -noultlng g.
inch guns.
This is the way one technician
worked out a possible arrangement on
the strength of the unofficial epcrt OF
the proposition made to the Japanese
The official plan, if one has been pre-
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