Evening star., 1935-09-28
BRITAIN EXPECTED
TO INCREASE NAVY
Observers Say Mediterra.
mean Crisis Nay Invoke
EScaIator Clause.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.


Despite the official denials from
London that the British government
does not intend to invoke the escala-
tor clause to increase the British
Navy above the present limitations Of
the London naval agreement. certain
responsible quarters in Washington
believe that such a move is inevitable.
The international situation, in con-
sequence of the probable defiance of
the League of Nations by Italy, Is
such that Great Britain, unless she
denounces the naval agreements some
time this year. must avail herself Of
article 81 of the London naval treaty
to re-establish her "two-power stand
ard" in the Mediterranean. 1t is cer-
tain that Great Britain will not de-
nounce the Washington and the Lon
don naval treaties. And it is equally
certain that the British admiralty has
informed the cabinet that unless the
British Navy is considerably strength
ened by new naval constructions it
could not assume the responsibility OF
maintaining the lines Of communica-
tions with the empire in case of
trouble in the Mediterranean.
Article 81, generally known under
the name of "eSculator clause was
inserted in the London treaty at thu
insistence of the British admiralty in
order to take care of a situation in
which the British naval power might
appear threatened by nations not be-
longing to the tripartite agreement.
Provisions of Article.
This article provides: IF during
the term of the present treaty the
requirements of security of any high
contracting party in respect of YES
sels Of war limited by the pres
ent naval treaty are in the opinion
OF that party materially affected by
new construction of any other power
other than those who have joined
this treaty, the high contract
ing party will notify the other par
ties as to the increase required
to be made in its own tonnageS witl.-
in one or more of the categories Of
such vessels of war, specifying the
proposed increases and shan
be entitled to make such increase =
In order not to put the other
signatories of the naval treaty in
an inferior position, the escalator
clause provides that upon such no.
tification, the other parties, signatory
OF this treaty, shall be entitled to
make proportionate increase in the
category or categories specified, and
the said other parties shall promptly
advise with each other through diplo-
matte channels as to the situation
thus presented"
The British admiralty has been
worried about the two standard pow
er in the Mediterranean. During the
Naval Conference of 1880, the British
admiralS were saying frankly that the
existing ratios were not sufficient be-
cause:
While the British cruisers had
to assure the lines Of communica-
tions between the British Isles and
the far-fiung empire, the French and
the Italians had to take care only of
the Mediterranean basin.
Sub Tonnage Smaller.
z. The tonnage agreed upon for Brit
lsh submarines was much smaller
than the tonnage of submarines pos
sessed by France and Italy individu-
ally. This constituted a menace to
the British lines Of communications
and in order to cope with the situa-
ton the time may come when the
British Navy will have to increase
the number Of its light cruisers and
destroyers.
The following comparative data
gives a clear picture of the predica-
ment Of the British admiralty today:
Submarines - Great Britain, Sc;
Italy, II, and France, Ill.
Destroyers - Great Britain, 1877;
Italy, 98, and France, SO.
Light and heavy cruisers-Great
Britain, 81; Italy, q, and Franch, 1s.
Thus, while Great Britain has a
distinct superiority on paper in the
cruiser class, the other two Mediter-
ranean powers have an overwhelming
OAPNA ASAANy Al o0blAAdA AAlCo dAlN CAudl
the British in destroyers.
Furthermore, even in the cruiser
class, the British are not in a particu-
larly overpowering position. OF their
ST cruisers only IS are underage and
Is are either building or appropriated
for, but not in commission yet. The
French have 13 and the Italians have
19 brand-new ships in that category
and the Italian light cruisers are sup
posed to be faster than the British.
In the destroyer class the British are
not much better of. Only Sc of these
vessels are underage, while the French
have the same number of underage
vessels and the Italians possess SIS
brand-new fast vessels Of this type.
SPECIAL NOTICES.
NOTICE IA HERERY GIVEN TEAT T7IJE,