Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-16
u. S. FORCED TO CONTINUE
BUILDING in NAVAL RACE
Britain Insists on TwO-POwer Standard
in Europe, With France Refusing
to Accede and Italy Following.

we have built UP to the japanese level,
which is just under 10000 tons, which
will add 10000 to our tonnage. In de-
stroyers we shall probably drop from
$4,000 to 100000. nominal fall OF
1900 tons; but in reality we shall
have built very large number Of new
submarines and destroyers.
BY contrast with the Americans,
neither the Japanese nor the British
faced any such problem as the cruiser
question of the United States. The
japanese already have slightly more
than 200, 900 tons in cruisers, and even
their extreme demand of 70 per cent
ratio would only involve the building
of something less than 10000 tons OF
new stuff. AS for the British, they
are already within 10000 tons Of their
goal.
France, by contrast, is in the Amer
lean position. During and since the
war financial conditions have forced
her to neglect her fleet. She is now
short in most directions MS Her tirst
based upon the alleged existing tonnage
of 681, 900. But in fact, aside from
hopeless junk, she has not more than
$50 900 tons. She Is thus asking an
actual increase of 10000 tons, In
stead of the $4,000 of her statements.
And she is asking the right to put this
tonnage in the place Britain likes least,
namely, in big cruisers ara submarines,
although she has some big flotilla lead
ers which the British dislike. Never
thelesS the entire French claims are
little larger than our prospective con-
struction program in cruisers alone,
which amounts to $4,000 tons.
AS to Italy, it is useless to go into
the italian claims, because Italy claims
| parity with France, although in actual
and prospective tonnage she is far be-
hind. And even If she should get her
right to parity acknowledged she would
! certainly not be able to build UP to 1t
now.
Great Building Prospect.
Looked at squarely, the situation then
| is this, the United States and France
| are both contemplating great naval con-
| structions which will much increase
their existing tonnage and even more
considerably expand the fighting capac-
! ity of their fleets. Italy is following
while Britain and Japan, which have
kept their fleets up, are standing still,
a course imposed by their economic
conditions.
The London Conference will not, then,
lead to reduction. It will not lead to
any larger limitation than that result
ing from the financial conditions of
oSNCAdA NOuAAOA4Cos 1I1C OIlUC0 STATES
and the French are destined to make
vast new expenditures, which in the
case of the United States will lead to
| at least a billion dollars. But one
must say in all justice that these ex-
penditures will not be in excess Of what
was certain in any event, conference or
no conference
When for five years we have al built
as much as we are able the United
j states will have parity with Britain,
and fixed relation with Japan, and
French and British relations win be
equally settled. What Ttaly's part will
be no one can guess. The real test, Of
course, is going to come in 1885, when
the next conference meets to decide
whether scrapping shall then begin or
a new burst of building. And not until
that time will it be possible to pass
any real Judgment upon the achieve
ment Of the London Conference.
OF course, 1t remains possible that
there VIII be no agreement. But in that
case fancy building will not be much
more considerable. At all events the
united states and the British have set
tled the actual dispute over parity, and
their navies are bound to be kent on
more or less fixed equality hereafter,
The problem, of course, remains whether
that level will be stationary or ascend.
ing. for although she has resigned SUI.
premacy and yielded parity in the case
OF the United States, Britain has not
abandoned the two-power standard In
Europe. And while France declines to
| recognize 1t the United States will have
TO keep pace with British building
against France.
(Copvrj0hk Io2o