AMERICAN ITEMS.

Hokitika Guardian, 21 November 1924, Page 2

AMERICAN ITEMS.

[ R eutkus Tel ec: rams.] A.MKRCAX IMPRESSIONS. WASHINGTON, |Nuv. 1!). The British request that any discussion on the Geneva Disarmament Protocol he deferred, has aroused in truest in the F.S.A. administration circles. The first impression was that the Disarmament Conference lie imperilled, hut later explanatory despatches from I-smelon seemed to e-huify the situation somewhat, these representing Mr Baldwin as merely desirous of a delay, in order that Rritisli opinion could lie formulated with greater rare. NAVAL SCRAPPING. WASHINGTON. Nov. 20. The F.S.A. Navy Department has announced that the Govei iinient’s scrapping in aeeordanee with the* Washington Treaties, netted the Government 111.(00 dollars. The vessels srrap|>ed in luded seven new battleships and four new battle cruisers, aggregating •Ifio.ooo tons, upon which the Govcrnmon had already expended 1.1-1,000,000 dollars. Tle'se warships, if completed. Wciufcl have cost ■l2t’i,ooo.ooo clollaas in all but their scrapping yielded only 010.000 dollars.

The American Navv. also scrapped 10 of the old battleships. aggregating 207.000 tens, whose wrapped materials brought 011.000 dollars. The cifiicials state that these receipts have been somewhat diminished by the additional expense and tliev declare' that the cost ( i' tile destruction nt the capital sbins will ultimately total 28 iiii.'lion dollars. Ibis includes the sum that lias yet to be paid, involving the cost of camelling life ooiistr Uction contracts on the ships which were building when these naval limitations were approved.