Evening star., 1935-11-20
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN,

The American delegation at the
naval conference to be held early IN
December in London will sail next
Wednesday.
It's leaders, Norman H. Davis, Will
liam Phillips and Admiral William
Standley have no illusions that there
will be reduction in strength OF
the navies of the five naval powers
Great Britain. America. Japan. France
and Italy. The best these delegates
hope to bring back to the United
States is an agreement that the ton
mage of the navies Of the five powers
will not be substantially increased and
that the United States will not be
compelled TO increase Immediately It's
Navy above the present tleaty strength.
This hope was voiced yesterday by
President Roosevelt, who declared that
the position of the United States at
the Forthcoming naval conference will
be substantially what it has been and
that this Government Will oppose the
building of navies to cost nations more
than they cost today.
Stands Pat on Ratio.
The Presidents declaration is in
terpreted to mean the United States
stands pat on the 5-5-3 ratio with
Great Britain and Japan and also 1t
hopes that the British government
will see its way clear to draw from
the existing 1,170O00 tons of warshlps
the necessary tonnage for the build
ing of 20 new cruisers.
According to reports from London
the United States Government has
withdrawn its objection to Great
Britain increasing the number OF its
cruisers from so to 10. The recent
developments have convinced this
Government that the British need
larger number of small cruisers to
patrol the seas and protect Britalns
far-fiung empire.
The administration also realizes
that any increase in the number OF
fighting vessels of the British Navy
cannot be considered any more as
challenge to the United States, as was
the case during the naval conference
at Geneva in 1927 and even at the
London conference of 1890.
Prefer to Face Demands.
After months of private conversa-
tions between the British and the
American governments, it was decided
that whatever the results of the con-
ference may be. it would be better to
face a demand for increased naval
armaments from Japan, France and
Italy rather than let the Washington
and London naval treaties go out Of
force and thus open a new era OF
unlimited naval armaments.
The situation presents itself as fol-
lows: The British government has an
nounced officially and unohcially that
in view of the present political and
naval situation in the world, it needs
20 more cruisers than it has today.
These cruisers. the admiralty says,
are defensive ships to police the sea
lanes of the British Empire. Their
size. about 5000 tons each, armed with
maximum 6inch guns, is cited to sup
port the British contention.
The japanese government has been
equally frank 1t does not care
whether navies are reduced or in
creased provided the existing 5-5-3
ratio, with Japan holding the shorter
end Of the stick. is abolished and at
least a theoretical parity is granted
Japan. The position Of the japanese
government on that subject is firm
and the japanese delegation is re-
ported to have orders to leave the
conference rather than yield on the
equality principle.
France to Demand Boost.
France will demand an increase of
Its present global tonnage Last Sum-
mer the British government, without
consulting Paris. granted Germany a
navy IS per cent of the British
strength. Furthermore. the Italians
put on the stocks early last Spring
two 35,000-ton battleships. The French,
with one eye on the Mediterranean
and another on the North Sea, feel