Evening star., 1932-10-09
j. S.-BR|T|SH NAVY
PARLEYS TO OBEG|N
American Representatives in
London to Discuss New
Naval Cost Cuts.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

the course of the week will begin con-
versations with Ramsay Macdonald. Sir
John Simon and the representatives OF
the British Admiralty for new naval
agreement between the United States
and Great Britain. aiming at further
reduction of naval expenditure by cut
ting down, if possible, the global
tonnage of the United States and
British navies.
The converse lions will proceed on the
basis of the Rapidan agreement OF 1929
between President Hoover and Ramsay
Macdonald, where the foundations OF
new policy were laid. That policy has
been repeatedly expressed by the British
premier in the terms that "a war be-
tween the United States and Great
Britain is unthinkable."
Following this principle, the negotl-
ators of both countries will endeavor,
and will probably be able, to reach all
understanding regarding the future
naval policy of the two nations more in
harmony with the present needs OF
Great Britain.
Need Smaller Ships.
In the last II months the British
Admiralty has been complaining that
the present type, of vessels Britain is
allowed to build in accordance with the
Washington and London naval agree
ments do not suit the needs of the
British empire Great Britain, the
spokesmen of the Admiralty say, needs
a larger number of vessels of smaller
tonnage than it possesses at present.
This claim is based on the fact that
Britain has far flung empire, and
needs small vessels to police the oceans
and the seas and also to show the flag
in all the corners Of the world in order
to promote its trade. The British
Admiralty is a strong believer in the
slogan that trade follows the flag"
To this point of view of the British,
the American Government has no OBJ
lection. But the principal worry of the
American Government is the reduction
Of its naval expenditure by cutting down
in common with other nations the size
of the Navy
The American Government, however.
cannot be interested, it is said in
Official quarters. in the reduction in size
of the battleships.
The needs of the United States are
different from those Of Britain. On
account of the lack of naval bases the
purpose of the American Navy is the
present type of battleship. On other
vessels. a compromise might be reached.
especially in the type of the airplane
carrier While many admirals main
tain that the Lexington type is neces-
sary for the United States. others argue
there is no use having all the eggs in
one basket. and advocate a smaller
type of carrier such as the Ranger. But
these are details serving only to show
that the United States will be willing
to discuss with Great Britain the re-
duction in size of certain classes of
duced without impairing the nations
security.
Prospect Is For Accord.
The principal object of the pending
conversations in London is to reach
an agreement on the basis that the two
nations agree to reduce the size of their
feet and within the total global ton
mage agreed upon, each nation shall be
free to build such vessels as are best
fitted for its needs. And there is
every prospect that such agreement will
be reached.
OF course. the chances of making
such an agreement effective are still
1Ilcy dCpSAlN CAleAASAy VA oiAS
other naval powers. Japan, France and
Italy, approving of such naval pact,
and, for the time being at least, it is
not likely that Japan will accept a
further reduction of her global ton
mage, even if she were given the same
opportunity of building any size of
ships she may wish Neither is it prob
able that France and Italy will be able
to come to an agreement regarding
the question of parity Of the navies OF
these two nations.
Consequently, in the eventuality OF
an agreement between Great Britain
and the United States being reached.
this agreement will be kept more or
less as a basis for further discussion
with the other nations, when the politi-
cal situation of the world will become
less strained and the principal nations
will be able to discuss this problem
without fear or suspicion Of each other.
But it is deemed important in the
State Department that at least two i
nations should show the world the way
toward disarmament and even If an
American British agreement will be
considered only as platonic gesture, 1t
may serve good purpose.
Believe Agreement Imperative.
AS uldCCer Oh IdCJ tilt otdte DC-
partment and Ramsay Macdonald be- |
perative in the present situation in !
order to revive the much endangered |
arms conference. The slogan of both |
governments seems to be IF at first |
you don't succeed, try, try again" And
both countries are trying hard in face |
of enormous difficulties.
The situation in Europe seems to !
be getting less favorable to the dis
armament idea than ever. While lead
ers still pretend to be interested in the
Hoover proposal and in arms reduc-
tions, reports from Germany, France
and Italy indicate a new wave of jim
go1sm.
The German politicians are extolling |
their past war records again and pro-
claim that "our future depends on the !
seas" which Is interpreted abroad and |
mainly in France, that Germany after |
having gotten rid of the reparations and |
having said with flnality that it intends |
to reorganize its national forces in ac-
cordance with the needs of the coun- |
try, will eventually claim the return of |
all or some of her colonies.
In Italy similar atmosphere seems |
to prevail. Mussolini has revived the |
old slogan. ITO live is not necessary. |!
gate" Finally, in France. at the pres
ent moment there is a strong tendency |
to popularize the navy among all |
classes. Lectures on naval matters and |
naval films are shown throughout the |
country. the welfare of the sailors is |
being steadily improved and according |
to latest report recruiting for the navy |
is booming"
In the present circumstances such
moves appear. to say the least. ominous. |
The confidence of the people of the |
world in the League of Nations is grad !
ually fading. The very statements |
heard frequently expressed at Geneva /
that the world continues to follow the
EARNED camp regime" is interpreted by
the people of Europe as an implication
that the League has failed in its task. |
THE idea of neace preSerYationS by |