Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1935-06-14
German Strength Will Be 35
Per Cent of London'S,
Officials Say.
HITLER SENDS MESSAGE
EXPRESSING AGREEMENT
Pact Will Be Operative Regard
less of Attitude Of France
and Italy.
By the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON. June 14-High British
sources today confirmed the fact of an
agreement between Great Britain and
Germany on the terms OF a bilateral
treaty restricting the German Navy to
IS per cent of the under-age British
naval strength.
Reichsfuehrer Hitler's assent to the
terms was formally communicated this
morning to Sir Samuel Hoare. British
foreign secretary. at conference with
Joaquin Won Ribbontrop, Hitler's
ornaments expert.
Some naval authorities asserted that
under these terms the German Navy
would be actually only II per cent the
size of the British Navy at present in
view of the great proportion of the
British feet composed Of average YES
sells.
1t was understood, however. that the
treaty contemplates the replacement
of Great Britain'S average vessels
within the limits prescribed by the
Washington and London naval treaties.
Attitude of France.
An important aspect to the Anglo
German agreement is. it was indicated,
that it will be operative between the
two countries regardless of whether 1t
is accepted by France and Italy. The
United States and Japan raised no OBJ
jections, but replies still are awaited
from Paris and Rome.
If other powers entered a naval
building competition in excess of the
limits contemplated under the pres
ent treaties, both England and Ger
many would simultaneously be re-
leased from their mutual agreement.
Although France and Italy are not
bound by treaties except in the build
ing of capital ships. it is understood
that a release clause in the Anglo
German agreement has been framed
to protect Germany adequately in
the event of a naval ornaments race
in smaller warships and submarines.
The. British government still is
hopeful that the Ang!o-Germ
agreement can be incorporated into
a multilateral pact including Russia
in addition to the present naval treaty
powers. 1t is understood that the
Russian government has been kept
informed and that an Anglo Russian
naval conference is contemplated at
a future date.
Agreement Drafted.
In the agreement with Great Brit
ain, Germany will limit her navy
in each category of fighting ships to
IS per cent the British strength. The
actual drafting of the new agree
ment is being undertaken imme-
diately.
Great Britain, by completing the
pact, leaves herself open to charges
from France of aiding Germany in
further wrecking the Versailles treaty.
Britain's part in the further weak
ening of the already tottering treaty
of Versailles was defended by the
Times, in an apparently inspired edi-
torial.
Although in practice it (the agree
menD involves a tacit disregard of
the treaty OF Versailles" the edi-
torial said, yet inasmuch as it will
substitute a new agreement for the
prosecution of disarmament clauses
of the treaty, it will constitute an i'm
portant advance in the process of
getting peace established upon the
firm ground of agreements freely
concluded. There are parts OF the
treaty of Versailles which it is best
to forget about'.'s