Evening star., 1934-03-09
NEW ARMS RACE
SEEN UNDER WAY
Officials Deny Provocation
in U. S. Intent to Build
Treaty Navy.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

American and foreign diplomats
are worried about the new armament
race which is by way Of being inau-
gurated all over the world, and see
but little hope for the Limitation of
Arms Conference to make any head
way henceforth.
American oficials feel, however,
that this country has in no way pro.
moted or encouraged the race. The
United States has for years neglected
the national defense because. it is
stated, 1t had hoped to set an exam
pie to the other nations to reduce
their armaments.
President Roosevelt has made It
plain in ofiicial statements, such as
that Of May 16, 1893, and a few DAYS
ago In a note sent to Great Britain.
that the United States is prepared to
reduce its ornaments and help other
nations to disarm, but he insisted that
the disarmament must be effective
and must start at once.
Navy Within Treaty.
The Vlnson bill, which will give the
United States a treaty Navy by 1898,
Is not considered In oficial quarters
IN any way as the motive for renewed
armaments. This bill merely en-
deavors to put into effect an agree
ment reached in London in 1880, and
nothing more. Japan, which appears
more disturbed than any other nation
by the large American appropriations.
already has completed its allowed
quota OF ships-with the exception of
some 600 tons-and is reported to be
making preparation for construction
OF others.
AL the naval powers, the United
States, Great Britain, Japan, France
and Italy, are bound to a limitation
OF their fleets by either of the two
naval pacts. the Washington Agree
ment and the London Naval Treaty
Until these two instruments are de-
nounced, none Of these nations can
increase their allowed naval quotas.
France and Italy are not bound by
the London pact in the construction
of their auxiliary vessels.
The Washington treaty, which limits
the number of the battleships, will
expire on January /, 1896, If either
OF the f1ve signatory nations gives no.
tice by the end of this year that it
does not contemplate renewing 1t. If
such notice Is not given. the treaty
Is automatically continued for anotr-
period Of two years.
Japan May Give Notice.
So far no nation has given su
notice, but there are indications that
Japan may wish to TERMINATE it. The
washington agreement has set q ra-
ito Of 5-5-3 for Great Britain, the
United States and Japan. That Is to
say. that Japan has battleships
to Britain's and Americas Is.
The Japanese contend that this ra-
ito Is insufficient and that the JAP
anese increased obligations toward
Manchukuo makes it necessary to have
this ratio revised.
1t appears that under these cir
cumstances It would be advantageous
for Japan not to renew the existing
agreement. but insist that the whole
matter should be revised at . new
conference.
The London naval treaty, providing
for the limitation of the auxiliary
vessels (cruisers, destroyers etc.), Is
not renewable. It provides definitely
that new conference should be held
in 1886 to reconsider the whole mat
ter.
1886 Conference Opposed.
But there is a strong feeling. espe-
cially In Europe, that such a confer
ence Is not desirable. because it might
again cause political friction like that
between Italy and France in 1890. In
any case. nobody is willing to dis
cuss at present the possibility of hold
ing such meeting, since, it Is said,
nobody can foresee what may hap
pen before 1896.
Under the circumstances there was
no other way out as far as the United
States was concerned, but to build
the Navy up to the agreed treaty
strength and wait further develop
ments.
As far as the air service Is con-
cerned, 1t is felt that whatever funds
Congress may be willing to appropri-
ate, the American program Is de-
signed to cover the essential needs of
this county and cannot be regarded
as provocation to any foreign coun-
try As q matter of fact, the British
government. which is alarmed at the
new air-building programs. realizes
this so well that Stanley Baldwin. in
proposing a limitation of airforce
conference, suggested that 1t should
be confined only to European powers.