NAVAL CONFERENCE

Gisborne Times, Volume LXX, Issue 11126, 8 February 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

AMERICA N VIEWPOINT. SUGGESTED REDUCTION OE BATTLESHIPS. EQUALITY WITH BRITAIN NEXT YEAR INSTEAD OF 1942. SAME RATIO FOR EVERY CLASS FOR JAPAN. United I’resß Absii. by El. Tel. Copyright LONDON, Eel*. 0. 11l :i .statement to the world press. Mr. Stim.son referred to the progress of the naval conference. Me pointed out that Britain anil America had already agreed on parity in principle, but it was now possible to go further. The American delegates suggested firstly as regards Britain that there should be immediate parity in every class oi ship. America at present had an advantage of 30,000 largo cruiser tonnage, and Britain 42,000 light cruiser tonnage. The United States suggested that each country should have the option of exactly duplicating the number of small cruisers and increasing largo cruisers anil America vice versa.

As regards battleships, America suggested a reduction on both .sides in order to give equality in 1931, instead oi in 1942. America suggested equal tonnage in destroyers, aircraft carriers, and the lowest sum uiarine tonnage possible. The United State* would welcomo the abolition of submarines if all five Powers consented, but she suggested in any event that they should not attack merchantmen without providing for the safely <n passengers ■. Secondly, as regards .Japan. the United State* suggested the sumo ratio for every Hass of ship. America did not make any proposals to France and I Laly, hut made the suggestion that an ilalo-1' rencli agreement was essential to the contemplated agreementTho American delegates maintain there should be agreement on every item and are hopeful of this being reached.

A MOPEFUL STATEMENT. BIG STEP TOWARDS SOLUTION OF PROBLEMS. United Press Assn, by El. Tel. Cop.vricht (Received Feb. 7, 9.43 p.m.t LONDON. Fel.. G. British official circle* to-night described Mr. Stimson's statement as very hopeful and encouraging, ana offering an equitable and promising line of solution, and a big step towards the solution of the outstanding Angio-Anibrican problems. UNITED STATES’ CRUISER STR KNGTII. VARIATION IN NUMBERS AT HOME AND IN LONDON. United Presn Aaen. by El. Tel- OopyriKh’ (Received Fell. 7 7.20 p.m.) WASHINGTON. Feb. 7. A contrast i s drawn here between Mr. Stimson’s statement to-day whereby the United State-, would be given 327,000 tons cruiser strength and 313.000 tons which was tentatively suggested last year, the 300.300 tons, which comprises the total provided in America's adopted building programme, and the known desire of Mr. Hoover that the strength might he reduced to 183.000 tons. It is. however, pointed out that it would be necessary i'll carrying out Mr. Stim.son’* proposals for t 10 United States to sacrifice the five 10.000 ton cruiser* called for in the authorised fifteen-cruiser programme of 1929. The sacrifice, nonetheless, would be exclusively in blueprints, as none of the work thereof has been begun. It k furthermore felt that the United States would have nothing to fear in British superiority of total cruiser tonnage due to America’s greater number of the ten thousand-tonner type.

A MOM EXTOLS EYEXT HOME PRESS OX AXGI.O--AMERICAN AGREEMENT. Upited Press Assn, by El. Tel. Coprrighv (Received Fell. S. PJ.IO p.m.) GONE OX Feb. 7. Among the momentous events o) tile history of the Anglo- American relations will lie the statement issued by Mr. .Stimson yesteniighi. This proposes to solve the cruiser probh’m which was unsolved by President Hoover and Mr. Macdonald last year by giving the United State* eighteen large cruisers and Britain fifteen and compensating Britain with forty-two thousand tons advantage m small cruisers.

The Daily Telegraph naval correspondent says: “If complete parity be achieved next year. Britain must presumably be prepared to scrap the four Iron Dukes, the now orgamseu training squadron and possibly also the batUc-eiiuscr tiger and the United States must discard at least tm'ee battleships—tile Utah, Florida, ami Arkansas or \\ yoming. A sensible compromise seems to have been reached as regards the cruiser tonnage. The dillicnity as to America's 18 eight-inch gun against the British fifteen will be removed by the proposed system ui transfer between Ine eight-inch and the sixnich class. it may be taken lor granted that competitive building of the heavy cruiser class is now over between the United State's; and Britain and tlie same may be said, indeed, as to every category of warship. The result will possibly be unpalatable to American economists, as the United Stales, in order to obtain parity, must 4 build 10,000-ton oruiser s in addition to eight already alloat or on tlio stocks.”

The Times, in an editorial, says". No 0110 in Britain and the United •States regards war as within Die range of possibility, but navies of approximate equal strength "ill help to put war completely out of the question and give the nations a sense of comfort and security. J lie details will require carolul examination and, maybe, some adjustment, but the statement seems to offer a basi M acceptable to the both connries. >