Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
British Cruiser Offer.

| AS the delegations to the LOndOf
Conference on Naval Limitation arr
gathering, A. v. Alexander, first lord Of
the admiralty and a member Of tn,
British delegation to the conference
makes the announcement that Britain
will seek to maintain fifty cruisers
This IS reduction of twenty cruisers
from the demand made by Britain ir
earlier naval conferences. It bears Out
the predictions that Britain is ready to
make concessions in the matter OF
naval strength In order to bring about
q real limitation and reduction Of naval
armament. In some quarters there is
still a disposition to regard as excessive
the minimum cruiser strength for Great
Britain now advocated by the first lord
Of the admiralty. speaking apparently
in his official capacity and as q dele
gate to the coming conference. But a
drop of twenty cruisers certainly must
be considered as a reduction from the
standpoint Of the British.
The President of the United States
has been anxious to bring about not
only limitation in the auxiliary naval
tonnage Of the maritime powers, but
also very real reduction. The Brit
ish, through Premier Macdonald, have
also indicated such q desire. It has
been reported that the British hosts
plan to make very generous proposals
in the matter Of naval reduction at
the London conference. Indeed, If the
conference is to be success, such pro-
posals must come and must be the
basis of an agreement. Great Britain
today outstrips the United States In
cruiser power. There Is not the slight
est doubt about that fact. And Britain,
through her spokesman, has already
agreed to naval parity with the United
States.
It doubtless will be necessary 4or
this country to build up to the min
imum British cruiser strength which
is set at the coming conference. The
United States has already adopted
cruiser building program, looking to
the needs of the country from the
point Of view Of national defense.
There is one point upon which the peo-
pie of the United States may be ex-
pected to insist. That is naval parity
with Great Britain. It is q principle
set down at the washington Conference
on Naval Limitation In 1922. This coun-
try has not kept pace with Great Brit
ain IN cruiser construction, although
it has been free to do so. Today 1t
seems certain that despite heavy slashes
made by the British in cruiser ton
mage at the naval conference, this
country will have to continue with its
present cruiser program. But even II
that be the fact, it need not be dis
couraging. without an agreement at
London, the cruiser program in the end
would In all probability have to be
increased. For q number Of years that
program was allowed to lag. The Gov
eminent Of the United States was econ-
omizing. Now that the cruiser program
has been developed, it comes as some
thing of a shock to the people. But
after all it has been commensurate only
with the minimum needs Of defense Of
this country.
The London conference has, like the
Washington conference In 1922, spe-
cial problem. At Washington, the prob
lens Of the Pacific had to be consid-
cred. At London the problems Of the
Mediterranean are pressing for settle
ment. Indeed, it is upon the success
full handling Of these problems that
really constructive work in the limita-
ton Of cruisers, destroyers and SUBJ
marines depends. The problems Of the
Pacific were worked out through four
power treaty, involving the United
States, Great Britain, France and
Japan, which In q measure superseded
the Anglo Japanese alliance. That al
lance in any event was brought to an
end. At London, it is now proposed, a
treaty similar to the four-power Pacific
treaty, but involving the powers inter-
ested particularly in the waters of the
Mediterranean. should be negotiated.
Great Britain, France, Italy and Spain
are mentioned as the principal powers
involved. The negotiation Of q Medi-
terranean treaty. II it is accomplished.
may well be O triumph Of the London
conference.