Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-27
HOLDS UP
TWO BIG CRUISERS
Further Progress on Tonnage
and Parity Problems
Announced.
Continued From First page.>

NOOIlJAlluCQ EIO1Il EASk Ed6C.J
would defer to French views by allow
ing a certain percentage of total ton
mage to be diverted from one class to
another.
Announcement of cancellation of
work on the British cruisers Surrey and
Northumberland was made by the adj
miralty without explanation. These
are the two ships on which Prime Min
lister Macdonald suspended work short
ly before his visit to the United States
last year. The absence of official COM
ment on today'S announcement was
taken as further evidence of Great
Britain'S faith that some agreement
negotiations.
Both 1O,OOO-TOn Vessels.
The Surrey and Northumberland
were to have been 10,000-ton vessels.
The inference was that Great Britain
saw the way to an agreement whereby
she will need only her present strength
in this largest class of cruisers. Leav-
ing the remainder of her total tonnage
to be put into small ships. The under
standing has been that in parity dis
cuSsionS with the United States, the
British indicated they preferred to
build cruisers of about 1900 tons rather
than the bigger type as requirements.
The only available British comment
was from the spokesman of the British
delegation who said the cancellation in
dicated hope that the conference will
do something. Work on these ships
never had actually been started.
It was pointed out in other quarters
that recent cruiser discussions indicated
the British were much interested in the
Japanese as well as American cruiser
programs, particularly in view of
Japan's demand for 2 to 10 cruiser
status. The admiraltys cancella-
ton order therefore was taken as pos
sible evidence that the British are con-
fldent Japan'S demands will be met
not give her greater power in large
cruisers than Great Britain already
possesses.
British and French to Meet.
Reports that the United States had
joined forces with Japan in her de-
mand for more cruisers were denied at
the American delegation headquarters.
1t is understood thus far no formal dis
cussions of this subject have been held,
but the British and japanese delega-
lions made an appointment to meet
each other this afternoon. The British
also had an appointment during the
0ay 4OI q JOult mcSbA1lB Will TIE
French and Italians.
The Big Five meeting this morning
did not finally complete the agenda, but
did decide that the question of tonnage
measurements be taken up first at the
next session of the full conference.
1t also was decided to let the other
subjects come up in the alphabetical
order of the countries proposing them.
This means that France will be able to
place her compromise "global" tonnage
proposal before the conference before
Italy can present the somewhat diff
ferent plan she favors.
During the afternoon it was an
nounced that because of the length of
the morning session the British and
Japanese conference scheduled for to-
day had been abandoned.
Abolition of battleShipS is understood
to have been eliminated definitely as a
subject for discussion on the agenda
largely because of views held by the
American delegation here.
It was learned that considerable dis
cussion had taken place, but that to all
appearances the Americans were ada
mant against its inclusion as a topic
to be considered here. The American
view is that at the present time naval
opinion would not support so drastic a
step.
TOXIC TO YIELD ON AGENDA.