AMERICAN ITEMS

Hokitika Guardian, 9 January 1925, Page 3

AMERICAN ITEMS

[ltsimuis Teckohaais.] STERLING RISES. NEW YORK, January 8. Sterling has reached a new high level of 477], CHICAGO. January 3. Wheat—May 177:]. July 1521. THE Cll'N ELEVATIONS. CON FI .ICTIN G O RIX lON S. WASHINGTON. Jan. 8. Secretary Hughes in a letter to the House of Representatives Naval Committee took up the postioin that the elevation of guns on American battle ships would not violate the arms treaty although it might unfortunately tend to promote naval competition. He said that the whole of Britain had taken the view that* the : iterations proposed would he a violation ot the treaty. Japan took an opposite view, although he declared the Navy Department wanted the navy to accord with the 5-5-3 ratio. Secretary Wilbur told the House that the Naval Committee, as the result, of the administration’s economy policy, lie could not recommend the gun 'elevation programme nor endorse the pending seventy million dollar bill for new construction. Mr Hughes’ letter was in response to a. resolution asking if protests against the elevation had been made

hv foreign powers. Mr Hughes said the British Ambassador in March. 1923. brought up the su'ject. ‘‘earnestly appealing” to the State Depart- , meat against any alteration in the present gun elevations, giving a positive assurance that no such .alter ation, would lie made on anv British capital ship after its commission. The Secretary stated the British view af the proposed alteration constitutes that a major alteration is prohibited by the treaty. Mr Hughes agreed with the Japanese opinion that minor alterations did not violate the treaty, hut he realised it might tend to revive competition which would not he harmonious with the well established position of the United States.