Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
BY WILLIAM L. MCPHERSON.
NH oDIFIcAT1oN of the provisions

UeHlS OF Tie HRenOa OF Gne
London Conference. Postponement of
requirements and reduction of the size
and number of capital ships are pretty
certain to be considered as supplements
to any agreement reached for limitation
of auxiliary vessels. In reopening the
replacement schedules the conference
will only anticipate by a year and a
half proceeding authorized and made
mandatory by the treaty. Article 81 of
that instrument provided:
I'm veiw of the possible technical and
scientific developments, the United
States, after consultation with the other
contracting powers, shall arrange for a
conference of all the contracting powers
which shall convene as soon as possible
after the expiration of eight years from
the coming into force of the present
treaty to consider what changes, of any,
in the treaty may be necessary to meet
such developments.
Modification Limits Fixed.
The Washington treaty was signed on
February s, 1922, but did not become
effective until August II, 1923, when
notifications were exchanged in Wash
ington. The eight-year-la revision
is due in the latter half of 1881. It has
been considered more convenient, If all
the Signatory powers are willing TO
waive technicalities, to allow the auxiI-
larry limitation conference now sitting
to deal coincidently with the capital
ship replacement program and to mod
ify it within certain limits.
These limits were fixed in the sum-
mary OF the results of preliminary con-
versations between Washington and
London attached to the invitations sent
out by the British government. It said:
THE question of battleShip strength
was also touched upon during the con-
versations and it has been agreed in
these conversations that. subject to the
assent of other siguatory powers, it
would be desirable to reconsider the
battleship replacement programs pro-
Vided for in the Washington treaty of
1922 with the veiw of diminishing the
amount of replacement construction
implied In the treaty"
Treaty Provisions Reviewed.
Diminution of replacement is thus
brought before the London Conference
either as an end in itself or as an addi-
tlonal contribution to a successful
scheme OF auxiliary limitation, whether
involving substantial tonnage reduction
or not. This battleship or capital ship
replacement diminution may be brought
about either by reduction in the maxi
mum tonnage allowed to capital units,
by Scrapping units without replacement
or BY merely poStponing requirements.
But since replacement is one of the
controlling factors in capital ship parity
and, In fact, the chief means under the
treaty OF producing actual parity be-
tween the United States and Great Brit.
ain, the problem of modification is one
OF peculiar importance to this country.
1t can be properly understood only by
careful study of the provisions of the
treaty which were intended to relieve
and ultimately to correct, a material
leftover disparity in capital ship
strength.
The treaty, in Chapter II, Part /,
designated Is battleships to be retained
by the United States. Their total tom
mage was 500,650. Twenty-Five battle
ships and battle cruisers were to be re-
tanned by Great Britain. Their total
tonnage was put at $50, 450.
Requirements Designated.
BY special arrangement this country
was to replace the North Dakota and
the Delaware, each 10000 tons. with the
west Virginia and the Colorado, each
OF $500 tons. That exchange was in
tended to bring the American battleship
total tonnage up to 525.65O.
Great Britain was obligated to replace
the Thunderer, the King George ", the
AJAX and the Centurion-the first
~ANA "a SGyCVO UOt1o anu Vie OLIHI
three Of $4,000 tons apiece-with the
Nelson and the Rodney, of IS, 900 tons
apiece, actually of $500 and 33 900
Ihat exchange was designed to bring
the British battleship and battle cruiser
tonnage down to $4,000 tons.
Ihese substitutions were made some
years ago and today, in advance of the
regular 1934-1942 requirements. there
Is, according to the treaty figures. a
disparity. at the expense of the Aneri-
can battle fleet, of 33,I0O tons, almost
one maximum size battleship.
=, ms inequality was to be overcome
tnrough the requirements beginning in
i 1893, Lne nrst substitute ships to be
4ald down in 1881 and completed three
years later. The United States was to
scrap In 1884 the Florida. the Utah and
the Wyomtng-the first two of 81 .825
IONS apiece and the last of 26, 900 tons
~ building two new 35,OO0-ton battle
slps TINS country would lose $3.50
tons and gain 10000.
Great Britain, at the same time
would scrap the Iron Duke, the. Mari,
borough, the Emperor of India and the
Benbow-each of $4,000 tons-and re-
place them with two new as 000-toy
pattieshlps. Her total battleship and
patue cruiser tonnage would then faIl
from oos,S50 to 525,950 tons.
Absolute Parity by 1912.
The flrst replacement is the crucial
onH In the series, so far as the United
states Is concerned. It would produce
Ior the first time practical parity be-
tween the two capital ship fleets, ac-
cordlng TO the schedule of tonnage car
NEG IN the treaty which are loosely de-
ScrlDeo as regulated by national" svs-
TENS Of measurement. These systems
OF measurement, producing UNEQUAL re-
SUITS, are TO be replaced by the treaty
standard as the replacements 90 on and
oy 1912 there will be an absolute parity
not only IN tons, but in the ton meas
urements used for each and every unit
A!Ier the 1884 adjustments are made
the BRUSH battleShip and battle cruiser
tonnage will be 528,950 and the Ameri-
can $4,000. In 1885 our fighting feet
VIII forge ahead. In that year the Brit
Ism lose four units-one battle cruiser
the Tiger, of 28,500 tons, and three bat
Ilesnips, Lhe queen Elizabeth Warspite
ano the Barham, each of 81 500 tons.
we lose the Arkansas, the Texas and
the New York-the first of $4,000 tons
and the other two of $1,000 tons apiece
Each navy gains two 35,000-ton battle
SHIPS: The British tonnage total falls
10 48I $50. and the American total falls
to only $1,000.
Totals Fall in 1886.
In 1886 the balance on replacements
IaVors Great Britain little. She scraps
the Malaga, of 27,500 tons, and the
Royal Sovereign. of 27,75O. We scrap
the Nevada and Oklahoma, each of ~, :
300 tons. One new standard battleship
OF $4,000 tons is added to each navy
our total falls to 496, 200 Great Brit
aims falls to 469, 700.
In 1887 two battleships-the Arizona
and the Pennsylvania-disapp from
our list and two more, the Revenge and
the Resolution, from the British list