New Britain herald., 1930-03-15
Lord Bridgeman, Former Head of British Admiralty, Perturbed At
 Parley's Failure, Asks New Start
Claims Great Economic Gains Can Be Realized by Cut in Type of Ships and Size of Guns.

London, March 15 (UP)-Lord Bridgeman of Leigh, former first lord of the British admiralty in the last conservative government, said yesterday he thinks the London naval conference should start over again, dropping the points on which the delegates of the five powers obviously were deadlocked and giv- ing attention to an extension of the Washington treaty and the reduction of battleships and gun calibrcs.
 T, myself, believe it would be easy to get an agreement Lord Bridgcman said, If they would only so about it in the right way
 Leaning on the huge mantle piece in his vast private residence in West minister, Lord Bridgeman, white haired statesman. a delegate to the Geneva naval conference in 1927. which failed told what he thought the right way would be. He spoke with an authority born of his in timate knowledge of naval matters and of his participation in interna- tional affairs.
 Asks New Start
 "Why not start anew" he queried. First, extend the Washington treaty for a few years. Second, limit all battleship replaccments to 25,0O0 tons. Third. limit gun calibers to 12 or 13.5 inches instead of the present 16. Fourth, agree to maximum building programs in the various classes of ships for the next five years. allowing certain elasticity for smaller powers, such as the right to transfer tonnage from one class to another.
 "I know they say the United States wants 5000 ton battleships because she has no bases but I honestly can- not see why 25,000 tons would be in- sulIicient-providing of course, all other powers agree to the same limit.
 You can do quite a lot with 25,- 900 tonners at that. you know. I did not go quite that far at Geneva. l remember suggesting, however. a limit of 27,000 tons, to which the Japanese at that time were pleased 10 adhere.
 "t'rankly, if President Hoover wants his men to return home saying they got q reduction at London, the way 10 do it is 10 commence re- ducing the size of battleships and gun calibers. I quite realize the United States is in an awkward po- sition. Public opinion there is d- yidcd, some wanting reduction and others only limitation.
 As regards cruisers, it appears fairly obvious the United States will inevitably increase. That is why I suggest tackling battleships first and coming to an agrecmnt on a maxi mum building program in categorics for each nation for five years. This it seems to mo would be moro feaS- blc and at least result in saving con- siderable money.
 This angle of the question is even nfore important than the others, I believe, because l think even if the conference. were to fail 10 reach q settlement that fact would not make war any nearet or more probable. Incidentally, what on earth is there to fight about?,
 Personally, l don't believe drastic disarmament will make peace any more certain, but for the sake of economy l do think limitation very desirable. As far as the United States and Great Britain arc con- ccrncd, l think the peace Cc the world as safe if both have large navies as if they hadn't.
 At any rate, I consider there will be no building competition between the United states and Great Britain concerned. Mr. Baldwin, when premier, said that himself before the labor government came into pow CT"
 Asked if he thought a thrcc- power agreement would be advisable in the event the Italian and French diff terenccs were irrcconcilablc Lord Bridgeman said:
 'I am doubtful. Incidentally. one of the first things l said at Geneva was [ at Britain must reserve her right to modify whatever agreement might be arrived at. according to what the continental powers did following the Geneva conference. It seems to mo the same would apply at the London conference. That is on2 of the pcculiarities of Britain's s position. Unlike France or Italy, we must look both Ways-both to the Atlantic and to the Mediterranean. We cannot make any stable limita- ton agreement with the United States and Japan unless we know France s and 1taly's intentions. can wc?"
 Asked what hopes he held out for an agreement at the present con- ference, he said:
 1T am neither optimistic nor pes simistic. l simply cannot help think ing, however, they would feel aSham- cd 10 go away without some kind of accomplishment"