Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-09-27
DAVIS HERE TODAY
FOR NAVAL VIEWS.
Will Discuss Coming Lon
don Conversations With
Roosevelt and Hull.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Ambassador at Large Norman H.
Davis arrives today to discuss with
President Roosevelt and Secretary Of
State Cordell Hull Americas attitude
at the coming naval conversations in
London.
Mr.. Davis is scheduled to leave
sometime early in October in order
to arrive in London before October
20, when the three-cornered CONVEX
sations between the British, the jap
anese and the American delegates
will commence.
These three-cornered talks which
few months ago were said to be only
informal and preparatory for the gen
eral conference, which is to be held In
1895, have assumed lately a greater
Importance than the British and
American governments intended to
give them at first.
In fact, the fate of the 1885 naval
conference depends entirely on the
result of the London negotiations.
Technical Mems Part.
Technical men will play only a
little role in London next month.
The question of the Japanese re-
quest for a reduction in the tonnage
of the British and American fleets,
so as to give Japan the much-de-
sired parity, will be the foremost sub
ject of discussion. Admiral Yama-
motto, the plenipotentiary of the
japanese government, is reported to
have definite instructions to be I'M
yielding on this subject. The question
of the existence of the puppet state
of Manchuokuo may also be drawn
into these conversations, since Japan
proposes as an alternative to naval
parity to endow this new empire
with a navy which should complete
the japanese feet and bring 1t up
to the strength of the British and
the American navies.
The attitude of the American Gov
eminent regarding the question OF
parity with Japan remains the same,
it is reported, as it was since the
Washington naval agreement was
signed
That is to say, this country will not
agree to give Japan parity and will
insist that the existing ratios shall be
maintained. Japan has already an
advantage over the United States by
the fact that while the navy to which
America is entitled in accordance with
the London naval agreement Is not
completed yet and will not be finished
before 1896 or 1887, the japanese have
built every vessel they are entitled to
under the London agreement.
Terms for Reduction.
The administration is willing to
agree to a further reduction provided
the other naval powers agree to a
similar reduction and the present
ratios between Great Britain, Japan
and the United States are maintained
OF course, Mr. Davis will be ready
to negotiate slight reduction In the
size of the battleships and in the gun
power of these units, but it is unlikely
that he will be authorized to agree to
a drastic reduction of the capital ships
from $4,000 tons to $4,000 tons as the
British intend to ask.
While the State Department main
tains a non-committal attitude re-
garding the outcome of London nego-
tiations and processes an official
optimism that something might be
done about continuing the present
limitations. the British government is
reported to be pessimistic.
The British admiralty does not
believe that preliminary agreement
can be reached under the present
uncertain political conditions, and
believes that the best policy would
be to let the existing agreements run
their course and give every nation
its freedom of action when they are
terminated.
This time, it hopes that it will
prove conclusively to the other nations
that the smaller, more efficient and
less costly battleship Of not more than
$4,000 tons each are the type Of
vessels which every nation needs.