Evening star., 1938-01-16
s. AND ENGLAND
PREPARE TO DROP
SHIP TREATY LIMIT
May Reply to Japanese by
Exceeding 35, 900. Ton
Restriction.
N|PP0NESE 43,000-T0N
BUILDING IS REPORTED
Confirmation Is Difficult Because
Of Tokio's Refusal to Sign 1886
London Pact.

BACKGROUND
Washington naval treaty limiting
building OF capital ships OF Great
Britain, Japan and United States
on 5-5-3 ratio and London naval
treaty extending ratio principle to
cruisers and destroyers expired
December 81, 1886. London Naval
Conference held earlier that year
jailed to arriUe at agreement for
continued limitation of fleets, but
fired $4,000 tons as maximum for
battleships. Japan refused to ad-
here to treaty signed By Great
Britain, France and United States.
ey the Associated Press.
High authorities said last night the
United States and Great Britain were
preparing to disregard London naval
treaty limitations on the size of bat
tleships if reports were confirmed
that Japan was building larger dread
naughts.
This disclosure came while Presi-
dent Roosevelt was drafting special
message to Congress recommending
expanded naval construction
One of the principal considerations
receiving his attention, it was re-
ported authoritatively, was the possi-
bility that the United States might
be forced to build bigser-as Well as
more-battleships if it is to retain
naval superiority over Japan.
France also was reported to be
considering construction of capital
ships in excess of treaty limits as a
result Of Italy's battleship-building
activities.
35,ooo-Ton Limit Set.
The London naval treaty, signed in
1896 by the United States, Great
Britain and France, established q
35,000-ton limit on the size of dread
naughts to be built in the future by
those nations. Germany and Soviet
Russia later subscribed to this limita-
ton through separate agreements
with Great Britain. .,.
. Japan, which previously had de-
nounced earlier international treaties
limiting the number Of vessels in the
worlds navies, refused to adhere to
the new accord.
Unconfirmed news reports have been
published in Europe recently saying
Japan began construction of two
43,000-ton super men-o'-war last
year and that work on two more Of
similar size is to start soon.
Efforts of the other world powers to
establish the truth or falsity of such
, reports have encountered difficulties
because Japan guards her naval
secrets closely. Had the Toxic gov
ernment signed the London treaty,
1t would have been obligated to ex-
change warship construction informa-
ton annually with the other sigma
tories.
No Treaty Change Necessary.
No actual revision or denunciation
Of the London treaty would be neces-
sary il either of the three signatories
determined that any other naval
power was building in excess of its
limits and decided to follow suit.
An escape clause" provides that
hny parties to the pact are released
from its restrictions automatically If
p non-treaty power fails to conform
10 them.
An administration authority voiced
belief that the treaty powers might
ak Japan formally for information
concerning it, building program before
Sadng any action concerning the
breaty limitation.
This spokesman said that If the
report proved true, the American
Navy unquestionably would seek
authority to build battleships of an
equal or larger size. The largest
ureadnaughts in this country,s battle
fleet at present are the Idaho and
New Mexico, each of 80, 400 tons.
Two new battleships now under con.
struction were designed to be in the
,e5, ,000-ton class, as are the dread
naughts recently laid down by Great
Britain in It's rearmament program.
Details of this country's new naval
program were discussed by President
Roosevelt yesterday with his diplomat
tc and naval advisers.
Secretary Swanson said afterward
that Mr.. Roosevelt probably would send
his special message to Congress tomor-
row or Tuesday. ... rs,