Evening star., 1936-12-19
Naval Limitation Ends.

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Current developments in London and
Washington denote afresh the approach
ing end of naval limitation, despite fiji
teen years of persistent effort to per-
petuate it by international agreement.
With expiration of the London treaty OF
1880 at the close of this month, there
will be no more quantitative limitation
on either building or possession OF war
ships. All that is salvaged from the
Washington treaty of 1922 and the
London pact of 1880 is qualitative limita-
ton. The formerly contracting sea
powers are once again at liberty to build
without restriction. as far as numbers
are concerned. They are restrained only
by the capacity of their respective ma
tional purses.
Great Britain has determined to re-
tain five cruisers which were scheduled
under the London treaty to be scrapped
at the end of 1886. In announcing this
program, Sir Samuel Hoare, first lord of
the admiralty has just informed Parlia-
ment that it is due to "the deterioration
of the general international situation"
1t is obviously not moment, he ex-
planned, when any power would wish to
discard serviceable vessels. Britain ex-
changed views with both the United
States and Japan before reaching this
decision and received assurances that it
meets with no objection in either Wash
ington or Toxic, despite the fact that
1t runs counter to original treaty terms.
In line with the American policy OF
maintaining parity with the British
Navy, the United States plans, on its
part, through resort to appropriate pro-
visions of the London accord, to retain
destroyer tonnage. 1t was at first in
tended to keep only 40 900 tons due to be
scrapped, III order to match correspond
ing British purposes, but, in consequence
of Britains decision also to keep five old
cruisers in commission, it is understood
that the United States will maintain an
extra destroyer strength OF $4,000 tons,
or $1,000 altogether. AS on December
81 there will be 73,00O-ton shortage in
completed light cruisers in the United
States Navy below its full allowance, the
additional destroyer tonnage becomes
permissible under the classification
transfer conditions of the London treaty.
The final result will be complement of
100000 tons of completed destroyers,
though many will be over age. The
British will have 10000 tons. Japan
was enabled under the 1880 pact to re-
tain a 2S,0O0-ton excess of destroyers, to
hold it's ratio in line with that of Great
Britain. Toxic has preferred to keep
only some II 900 tons of destroyers and
TO add roundly 10000 tons to its sub
marine quota.
Nothing could more graphically IL
lustrate the nervous tension prevalent
throughout the world today than these
measures looking to maintenance of
naval strength at the fullest permissible
treaty limits. Conditions both in Europe
and Asia amply justify Great Britain
and the United States in taking them.
Until war psychology and actual threats
Of conflict disappear or are substantially
diminished, there is slender hope that
either limitation or reduction of naval
armaments will again become practi-
cable. Indeed, with the restriction prin-
ciple now scrapped, and the interna-
ttonal horizon beclouded as it has not
been since 1914, there is reason to fear
that q new era of competitive building
may be Just around the corner. 1t is a
disquieting but inevitable prospect.