Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-25
SPIRIT Of SUCCESS
SLOWS NAVY GROUP
London Conference DeIega-
tons Stiffen in Demands,
With First Step Lacking.
Continued From First page.)

and side issues, all they need to do is
to remember one of the foot ball games
they watched last Fall. The conference
temporarily has degenerated into a sys-
tenn Of huddles. Each national delega-
ton goes into huddle daily for more
or less protracted periods. Then 1t splits
up into individual huddles between two
or three of its own members. Then
these members go into huddles with
similar groups from other delegations.
The next step is for the national
delegations to order into various groups
their own expert naval advisers to or
ganize huddles with advisers of other
delegations. Sooner or later, probably
much later. delegates and advisers will
emerge from their respective huddles
with something resembling a basis of
agreement. Then the whistle will blow
and the conference will be prepared to
play q broad general game leading to
decisions.
Stimson Explains Situation.
Secretary Stimson explains the stu
alton in terms of the business world.
gates OF the five powers are tacklinR
the job just as business men engaged
in q colossal deal would do. The
progress under the circumstances is
satisfactory"
If the Secretary Of State cared to
apply the conferences relatively theory
ne probably would feel like adding that
angels could do no more.
Meanwhile, France continues to be
assigned the unenviable role of Stun
bling block. Until she recedes from her
position that limitation of naval
strength should be in global tonnage.
instead OF limitation by separate cate
gorleS, the conference cannot really get
down to business. Accordingly, France
and Great Britain now are locked In
the most important huddle Of them all,
with compromise under considera-
ton.
The British position, which America
ana Japan support, Is that Limitation
should be on categorical basis. France
isn't wholly opposed to this scheme, on
the condition that provision is made for
the transfer Of certain percentages of
tonnage from this or that category.
Then, there's the question of which
particular category should be subject to
increase. A margin of 10 per cent is
being discussed.
Italy Joins France.
The italian members are aligned with
the French on the global tonnage prop
osition. Their joint view is that all
countries should have a maximum ag-
gregate tonnage imposed upon them.
but be left free to divide this tonnage
into hattleShipS, cruisers, aircraft car
riers, submarines and destroyers ex-
actly as each should please. The Anglo
American-Japanese plan is to divide
the fleets into distinct categories and
then NIX a limit beyond which none
shall 60 in any one category. The Brit
ish spokesman put 1t this way:
"Admirals want to know exactly what
kind OF vessels they may have to fight
and what guns the enemy fleet carries
They are not interested in the total
tonnage of the fleet"
Thus global or categorical tonnage is
the first big nut the conference must
crack, Every effort Is being bent in
the direction Of cracking it speedily so
the conference can swing into action
credit at the outset.
Morrow, the mediator" has been
thrown into the breach as Americas
contribution to solution Of the tonnage
problem. He had q long conference
with Minister Tardieu of France yes
terday in an endeavor to establish the
merits of the category plan. The
French are discussing q global tonnage
Of 100000 or 100000.
Press Fight" Opens.
Secretary Stimson is facing a tussle
with the other delegations on confer
ence publicity. He has recommended
admission of the representatives of
three American press agencies to the
so-called committee of the whole of the
sessions and stands ready to surrender
q corresponding number of advisers
seats In the conference chamber of st.
James Palace. Whether the British
and other delegations will 90 along with
this proposal remains to be seen.
A grand army of special correspond
ents Is besieging the palace in the hope
they VIII not. They naturally fear be- |
ing placed at q disadvantage. Under |
the circumstances, they prefer the sys-
tenn Of verbal digests Of the proceed
ings, such as were given after the first |
conference session on Thursday. The !
press gallery's position is admission for |
all or none. It would take far more |
room than st. James Palace to accom- |
modate the full strength of the 1--WE
delegations and news-hungry scribes |
here from the four quarters OF the |
world
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