Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-05
CAPITAL SHIP PACT
IS EXPECTED SOON
5-5-3 Ratio Fixed Under
Washington Treaty Is Basis
of Agreement.
~ the Associated Press.

LONDON, February 5.-The highest
authority stated today that America,
Great Britain and Japan expected to
reach a tentative agreement within a
few days for reduction Of capital ships
or battleships contained in those coun-
tries navies.
This source stated that the Americans
had submitted definite proposals to
Great Britain and Japan. While the
details were withheld. it was understood
the proposed reduction would follow the
SIS capital ship ratio established
at the Washington Conference.
The general problem of battleships
Is being negotiated now between the
delegations of the three countries. The
general attitude of the three delega-
ton chiefs is said to be that there are
prospects of ready acceptance. al
though thus far there is no agreement
between any two.
The British capital ship total now
stands at 20. The Americans have Is
of the big ships and the japanese 10.
These limits were set by the Washington
conference.
Contingent on Cruisers.
It was said however. that the pro-
posed agreement between the three ma
leans contending that it was contingent
upon the settling of the cruiser question
Members of the French delegation ex-
pressed their approval of the proposed
agreement and said they would be in
accord with any such development.
The delegations this morning devoted
their time to discussions among their
own members. Col. Stimson had an
carly round of golf with his military
aide at Stanmoor and later had a con-
ference with members of his delegation
at the Ritz.
AS prelude to the big five" meeting
called for this evening. conference was
arranged at st. James Palace between
Secretary StimSon, Premier Tardieu and
Prime Minister Macdonald. The meet
ing will be held an hour before the other
session gets under way.
Col. StimSon is attacking a problem
involving facts and figures, to wit, bat
tleships and submarines.
Submarines Discussed.
Meeting yesterday in private confer
ence for the first time since the naval
parley opened, Col. Stimson and Reijiro
WakatSukl, head of the Japanese dele
CATION, and their aides and advisers !
launched discussion of the capital ship
needs OF their governments, the pros
poets Tor their limitation and the mat
1t had been supposed when the rep
resentatives of the two nations met that
JapanS contention of an allotment of
1O-10-7 cruiser ratio was to be taken
up. At the conclusion of the meeting
neither OF the chiefs would divulee de-
tails of what had passed between them.
A spokesman for the japanese how
ever. said later that the cruiser ratio
demanded by the Japanese had been
mentioned only casually and that bat !
tleshlps and submarines had been the |
principal topic. 1t was understood that |
America and Japan were together on the |
matter Of prolonging age limits of bat !
tleships, but could not agree on SUBJ
marines
America and Great Britain want the
undrsea craft abolished, but neither /
believes seriously that the other powers
Will give up submarines, which they |
consider necessary for coast defense. |
Consequently the conference will be |
asked to agree instead on lin tation !
OF the size and cruising radius of these |
craft.
Japan, in favor Of this, is asking only
for submarines suitable for defense of |
its coast. Beyond the matter Of age
limits 1t was not known just what |
phases the discussion of battleships |
touched. No date was set for future
American or Japanese meetings, but it
NoS SAAON6AlO OlAAClS NOulU NC lltlQ II.
Tardieu Return Awaited.
Meanwhile the remainder of the con-
ference seemed as deeply imbedded as
ever in its treatment of opposing view
points on global and categorical view
mage methods Of naval limitation,
There was hope that arrival of NJ. Tar
dieu, French premier, from Paris this /
evening might clear the way for a
solution nf THE TnhaSa nf ha
TONS
A new hitch has arisen with disin-
clination of the French for a discussion |
of total tonnage figures for each power |
until after the theory of the manner |
of limitation has been settled. Italy, |
on the other hand, would prefer seeing |
proposed tonnage figures for the five /
powers stated first in order that they |.
can determine whether the global or |
categorical plans meet their approval.
The Americans and Japanese have |
taken little active part in discussions |
of this phase of tonnage theorizing be-
heving a compromise agreement will be |
reached on the basis Of British and |
French proposals to reconcile the global |
and categorical schools of thought |
They have, however been busy formu- |
lating plans for adjustment of the |
French and italian parity differences |
when they come before the conference. |
While this Franco Italian matter has |
been viewed generally as one of the !
principal obstacles confronting the del |
egates, the chiefs of the delegations |
apparently are not at all pessimistic |
as to the final outcome of the meeting |
feeling that both countries are sincere |
in their desire to reduce tremendous |
sea armament expenses and ultimately |
will reach an agreement which will be |
generally satisfactory.
TARDIEU LEAVES PARIS.