Evening star., 1934-07-16
DAVIS D|SARM|NG
EFFORTS FUTILE
Ambassador at Large Will
Return to America This
Week.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


After three months Of futile nego-
tiations and endeavors to limit arms-
mentS. Ambassador at Large Norman
H Davis Is returning to the Uniteo
States.
Secretary Of State Hull announced
this morning that Mr. Davis will sail
from London this week.
The Secretary hastened 10 add that
Mr.. Davis return does not mean
have no effect on the next naval con-
ference. but that ne had finished his
task OF having preliminary couverSa-
tions with the British and would re-
turn to Iondon as soon AS his presence
there Is required.
Talks Yield No Results.
The four weeks OF negotiations
which MI Davis has carried on with
the British government and his pri-
vste conversations with Baron Mat
sudaira the Japa nese Ambassador at
the Court OF ST. James. and with the
French foreign minister. Louis Bar
thou. have yielded no results. Thus
the prospects of a naval conference
next year remains as obscure as they
we're few months ago when observ-
ers in this country. in Japan and in
Great Britain predicted that the Ma
val Conference Of 1885 was doomed to
failure
In his conversations with the Brit
ish, the Ambassador at Large found
sympathetic listeners in the person of
Ramsay Macdonald and Stanley
Baldwin. Both these statesmen agreed
with the American diplomat that a
reduction Of naval armament would
help the world and the cause of
peace. but unfortunately, the admiral
ty which is dealing in facts and not
in ideas, finds it difficult In the pres
ent situation of Europe to consent to
any redection of the British naval
strength.
On the contrary. the admiralty indi-
Gated clearly that the British Navy
needed more cruisers than it Is per-
mitted to build under the provisions of
the London naval pact in 1890. and
in order to safeguard the interests
Of the empire the British Navy ought
y,
the so which she possesses now.
Although Mr.. Davis did not discuss
officially any matters Of detail. but
merely questions OF principle. II was
possible for the British admiralty to
introduce these questions as questions
of principle. concerning the future
naval conference.
Weight Cut Brought Up.
At the same time, the question Of
reduction OF the size of the battleship
from the present $4,000 tons to a
smaller ship of ~ 600 to IS 900 was
ciple in the conversations between the
diplomats of the two countries.
Mr. Davis. it is reported, remained
as frigid toward that suggestion as he
was toward the idea of an increase of
the number Of the British cruisers
He had discussed the matter in
Washington with President Roosevelt
and the officials of the Navy Depart
ment and was fully aware that the
administration will not agree to a re-
duction in the size of battleshipS
which form the backbone of our
Navy.
Consequently, after exploring these
various subjects with the British
statesmen and after Admiral Leigh
discussed technical matters, unofh-
cially. with his British colleagues. it
was decided that further converse
tions were not necessary and 1t might
be just as we'll for the American
Ambassador at large to return and
wait for further developments. Should
the general political situation in Eu-
rope improve. there is q possibility
that these conversations would be re-
Sumed.
The talks between Mr.. Davis and
Foreign Minister Barthou were still
more unsatisfactory. The French can
not be interested. Mr.. Davis was in
formed. in any reduction OF their navy
when Germany has just launched her
third pocket battle cruiser and when
italy has announced the laying of the
keel for two battleships of $1,000 tons
eacn.
AS far as the japanese are con-
cerned. Ambassador Matsudaira re-
manned without instructions from his
government during all the time Mr..
Davis was in London. The japanese
government preferred to remain silent
as to what it expects from the next
naval conference If 1t is to be held.
The only informations which Mr..
Davis was able to obtain. it is said,
we're the various statements ofricial
or otherwise, made in Toxic in in
dicating that Japan desires to get rid
of the present 5-5-3 ratio and have
a feet in accordance With its needs.