Evening star., 1934-06-10
AMERICAN EXPERTS SAIL.
Admiral Leigh and Comdr. Wilkinson
to Advise Davis on Problems.

Admiral Leigh and Comdr. Wilkinson
to Advise Davis on Problems.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.
Admiral Richard H. Leigh and
Comdr. Theodore s. Wilkinson sailed
from New York yesterday for London.
where they will act as technical ad-
visers to Ambassador at Large Norman
H. Davis, who is entrusted by Presi-
dent Roosevelt with the preliminary
negotiations for the Naval Conference
of 1885.
1t is believed in special quarters
that these negotiations will be made
more difficult than those conducted
in 1929 by former Ambassador Charles
c. Dawes with Ramsay Macdonald.
Given Full Instructions.
Davis and his two naval experts
have clear indications as to how the
administration stands on the naval
situation. He discussed the matter at
length with President Roosevelt and
Secretary of State Hull, during his re-
cent visit to Washington, while the
two naval experts were given further
definite instructions before they SAIL
ed, when they were received by the
President and Mr. Hull.
The problem which will have to be
discussed at the next Naval Confer
ence will be more complex than at
the last conference. because both the
Washington agreement of 1921 and
the London agreement OF 1880 will
have to be reconsidered. The matter
may be still further complicated If
Germany and the Soviet Republics are
invited to participate in the confer
ence.
There are two important questions
on which the United States cannot
yield. One is the maintenance of
the existing 5-5-3 ratio established
between the United States, Great
Britain and Japan. and the other is
the reduction in size Of the battle
ship.
Differences Appear.
The American Government is will
ing to 60 as far as the other nations
in any eventual reduction of the
Navy provided the ratios agreed upon
in 1922 and in 1880 are maintained.
As far as the battleships are con-
cerned. the British government has
indicated for the last few years that
it desires to reduce the present type
of a maximum tonnage of $4,000 tons
to a smaller type not to exceed
5000 This wish will be strongly
opposed by the American delegates
because this country. lacking naval
bases, must have capital ships with
a long cruising radius. This matter
had been discussed in the past and
the American Government was as
adamant on the subject as it is now.
But, since the British government
seems to think the smaller battle
wagon" is more suited to its needs,
it is probable that the American dele
gates will not oppose the principle OF
global tonnage. That is to say, that
once the tonnage for certain cate
CORY has been agreed upon. each ma
ton should be free to build ships of
any size IL considers best for its in
dividual needs, within that category.
v. S. Now Behind.
Once these cardinal principles are
dCCCptCu, tllC hlHClltuA No'SAhAASA0'
is prepared to go as far as the others
in any reduction of the Navy.
AS it is. this country is behind the
other two principal powers in its
naval status.
According to official naval statistics
for March, 1884, the United States has
1859, 100 tons of ships in commission.
under construction and appropriated
for, while according to the existing
treaties it is entitled to 1,l86, 200 tons.
Great Britain, according to the
same statistics. has 1929 1863 tons. as
against 1,201, 700 allowed under the
treaties, while Japan has 881 1893 tons
and her allowed tonnage is 763.050.
Americas deficiency Is mostly in
destroyers and submarines, two types
of vessels more likely to be further
limited at the next conference.
The main trouble which will render
the discussions slow will not be the
technical problem Of ships and tom
mage. but the political questions exist
ing between nations These problems
have caused the failure of attempts to
rol,,oa arv,o rnanke