Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-04-13

| Report of our February foreign trade
/ shows striking falling-off as compared
with February, 1929. in every category
of import and export.
| x X
THE NAVAL The
latest dispatches indicate practical
certainty that the Naval Conference will
end within the near future with a
treaty substantially as follows:
The treaty to be in three parts.
! Part /. To embrace decisions agreed
| TO by all five powers, including, in chief
An agreement aimed at humaniZing
| submarine warfare; an agreement to
| limit the maximum tonnage of individ-
| ual submarines to 1000; a limitation
agreement respecting aircraft carriers
of less than 10000 tons; and an agree
ment respecting exempt ships and GER
| tain special types of ships.
Part 2. To embrace a limitation
agreement between the United States.
Great Britain and Japan only, covering
all categories of WarshipS. In respect
of capital ships 15-l5-9 ratio to be
substituted for the old ratio; five
British, three American and one Japa-
neSe battleShipS to be Scrapped, and 10
| more capital ships to be constructed
prior to 1896 (posSibly this holiday"
provision to be transferred to part and
so to include France and italy,; each
of three powers, however. to retain one
of the "scrapped" battleships for train
ing purposes.
Part 3.-To contain statement by
France and Italy that they are eager
to compose their differences, and an
engagement to continue negotiations.
together with the friendly aid of Great
Britain" with a view to their ultimate
adhesion TO part 2. Should the nego-
tiations result III agreement on limita-
ton figures for France and Italy which
should prove satisfactory to the United
States, Great Britain and Japan, the
said figures would be added to part .
and part would then lapse.
Presumably the treaties will contain
safeguarding provision for Britain's
satisfaction. against the possibility of
substantial construction by France and
Italy. or both, pending Franco-Italian
agreement or following failure thereof.
1t will be recalled that the Washington
naval treaty contains provision grant
ing the right of any party to the treaty
to call a conference of the signatorieS
should said party consider its position
threatened, and further providing that,
in case of failure of agreement by the
conference, all parties should regain
liberty as to construction.
It is of interest to note that the con-
templated limitation schedules seem to
allow us total tonnage about the same
as our present one (the latter including
craft considered obsolete or obSolescenD.
AS to the issue of the continued
Franco-Italian negotiations, that rests
on the knees of the gods, and holo-
cauSts and insence would seem to be
indicated. That negotiation will be
resumed at the Leaghe of Nations
council in May. I understand that there
is a 240,0O0-ton gap between existing
total French and total Italian tonnageS.
The British, observe, continue their
two-power standard policy with refer
ence to all navies, except those of the
United States and Japan. understand
that our allowances are to be battle
ships, 456000 tons; cruisers. 323.5OO;
aircraft carriers, $4,000; destroyers,
100000; submarines, 52,7O0; total.
1,117,200.
NOTES. France and Bel
GUM have ratified the Hague protocol,
embodying the Young plan. Two more
ratifications are required before the
Bank for International Settlements
(seat at Basic, Switzerland, the most
can definitely begin functioning. Its
first important act will be fiotation on
the financial markets of the first set Of
reparations bonds.
Amman, Palestine and Egypt are suf-
fering from a pest of locusts, said to be
far and away the worst within living
memory.
There apear to be good grounds for
expecting in the near future beginning
of recovery of Argentina from the very
serious economic crisis (due primarily
to crop failure) which has been in
process these many months but nobody
expects recovery to be rapid. No doubt