Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-11
EUROPES B|GNAVY
PLANS AROUSE US.
Need OF Raising American
Tonnage to Treaty Rights
Urged by Officials.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


chairman of the House Naval Commit
tee. and Of high naval officials to have
the new construction program passed
during the present session Of Con-
gress is not due to any jingoist senti'
ments. It is the result OF careful
study of the naval situation in Europe
where the maritime race is proceeding
merrily despite the London nava
treaty.
President Hoover, many members Of
Congress and the Navy Department
feel that the $T4,00o,o00 demanded by
the Navy Department should be APP
propriated in order to assure the build
ing of the treaty navy" allowed by
Z that treaty.
Great Britain has taken no steps
yet tc use the "escalator clause" pro-
vtded by the London treaty, whereby
she is authorized, whenever the CO.
parties expand their sea power above
the British-set standard, to increase
her tonnage beyond the agreed limits
British View Stated.
A. v. Alexander, first lord of the admi-
rally, has stated in the House OF Com
mons that in face of the naval con-
2 structions of other powers the British
government may be compelled to IN.
crease its naval program. He added
however, that there were sufficient
reasons to believe that the British gov
eminent will not have to increase the
navy, as other nations may stop the1I
competitive race.
But Mr.. Alexander's statement was
made at time when British diplomats
still chung to the hope that the Italians
and the French would reach a COM
promise to limit their naval program
for the next five years.
It appears from reliable advices
reaching washington that the Franco
italian deadlock is complete and that
Robert L. Craigie, Prime Minister
Ramsay MacDonald's emissary has
Just returned from Paris with the IN
formation that there was not the
slightest possibility of finding solu-
ton to this disagreement. This being
the situation, It is believed here that
the British government may have tx
arrange its next years naval program
In accordance with the italian and
French constructions.
France to Define Stand.
France, it is learned, viii soon hand
q memorandum to the powers adheren'
to the London naval treaty explaining
why she rejected the italian proposals
and why she feels obliged to proceed
with her naval program as laid down
in 1924. It Is reliably stated that the
French will conflne themselves to q
program OF about $4,000 tons a year
provided that the present proportion
with the italian Navy is maintained
Should the Italian government con-
tfnue the naval constructions at the
pace it started last year it is probable
that the French win have to revise up
ward their own building program.
The French and Italian naval con-
structions for 1890 are very interesting
since they indicate that neither country
intends to slacken its pace in their nava
race. The French launched no less thar
IL naval units totaling $4,000 tons
including the 10,000-ton cruiser Duplix
three 2,SO0-ton destroyers and sever
1,6O0-ton submarines.
Italy's effort for the same year Is un
precedented in the annals Of the Italian
Navy No fewer than 16 units were pu
afloat. These units represent a IA
greater fighting power than the 1
French vessels. They include thre,
1O,O0O-ton cruiSers-Fiume, cara anC
Gorizia-fOur 5,O00-ton cruisers, tastes
in the world, q 2,OO0-ton superdestroyer
two ], 400-ton destroyers and six subma'
rines.
Program q France.
Frances 1881 naval program, nov
under consideration by the Chamber d
Deputies, provides for the construction
of some $4,000 tons Of fighting ships
Although no appropriation has yet beer
made, everything seems to indicate tina
It will be voted within the next fort
night.
The Italian 1891 program has alread!
received parliamentary approval anC
provides for the construction Of 42,00l
tons of war vessels, including ont
10,000-ton cruiser and % submarines
Construction will begin July /.
In addition to these powerful navie'
the British, French and the Italians
are building "dreadnought liners" Al.
though the economic value of 10000 o.
10000 ton liners for the North Ameri
can traffic is questionable, the CunarC
Line, the White Star Line, the Com
pagnie Generate Trans-AtlantiQue anS
the Navigazione Generate Italiana arr
building vessels larger than any modern
battleship.
Equal Cruiser Speed.
Each of these new giants of the sea
will be at least 1000 feet long and vii
have a speed equal to that of the fast
est cruiser afloat
For the time being no such ship
being built in the United States. Tn
administration, high ranking naval ON
GERS and many members Of Congress ar
hopeful that within a reasonably shor
time European powers will see the futil
1ty of such naval race and will agre
70 limit their naval constructions to tn
standard set by Great Britain, tn
United States and Japan
But as It is unlikely that France ant
italy will cease their naval competi
ton within the next IL months and ais
that downward revision of the Lon
don treaty will not take place befor
1885, the Navy Department as well a
the House Naval Committee maintain
that It is essential that the $74,000, 00
appropriation demanded for naval con
structions should be granted by Con
greSS.