The Washington times., 1934-11-23
DAVIS To STUDY
AGREEMENT
IN LONDON
Discussions to Await Final
Action Of Tokyo ENJOYS;
Would Prevent Race
copyright, 1884. by international
News Service)

copyright. 1884 by international
News Service)
An Anglo-American understand.
ing to prevent any danger Of
naval rivalry between the United
States and Great Britain in the
event Japan's adamant demand
for naval equality prevents re-
newal of three-party limitation
agreements, looked as a distinct
possibility today.
Ambassador Norman H. Davis,
chief of the American delegation
to the London naval discussions,
has been authorized to discuss
the possibility of a separate un-
derstanding with the British rep
resentatives if and when such
discussions are considered desir.
able.
It was believed here, however,
that these discussions would be
avoided until all hope of reach
ing an agreement with Japan has
been abandoned. This Govern
1nent does not want to give the
Japanese any excuse for walking
out of the London conversations
on the grounds that any form
of united" front existed between
the United States and Great
Britain.
Suggested to Davis
The desirability of considering
the possibility of an Anglo-Amer-
ican naval understanding it
Japan renounceS existing treaties
was suggested formally to Mr..
Davis by the British representa-
tives in London last week.
The British suggestion did not
propose any common front
against Japan nor anything IN
the nature of an Anglo-Amerlcan
naval alliance.
It was an approach based on
the grounds that the outlook Tor
the renewal of existing treaties
was not promising because OF
:Japan's stand and that it might
be advisable for the British and
American governments to be pre-
pared to face the alternatives II IL
is impossible to obtain trlpartlVe
agreement.
Referred to Hull
Mr.. Davis referred the British
suggestion to the State Depart
ment and Secretary of State Hull
took it up with President Roose-
welt. AS a result, it was learned,
Mr., Davis was given authority to
discuss the matter with the Brit
ish when it is deemed advisable.
His authority to discuss such
an understanding, however, was
limited merely to joint limitation
of the American and British
navies insofar as it relates to the
danger of naval rivalry between
them.
It also was considered probable
that any such understanding. If
reached, would include an eScala"
tor clause enabling either or both
to increase it's own naval strength
in case it felt endangered by any
building program upon which
Japan might embark.
LONDON, Nov. % GNSO.-A
proposal that Britain negotiate
with the United States q treaty
under which either nation would
come to the assistance of the other
in the event of a war in the Pa
cific will be made in the House
Of Commons Tuesday.
Godfrey Mander. Liberal M. P,
and one of the staunchest sup
porters of Anglo-American amity,
today announced he would make
such a suggestion.
Mander's proposed treaty, it was
explained, would be along the
lines of the Locarno pact, in
which Britain, italy, Germany,
France, and Belgium guaranteed
to come to the assistance of the
country adjudged the non-ag-
gresor, if Germany, Belgium, or
France invaded neighbor's ter
ritory.
Britain's policy, under the force
of public opinion, has been to-
wards the attitude of mo more
commitments" and Mander's sug-
gestion is considered doomed to a
speedy death.