ARMAMENTS CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 21 June 1927, Page 3

ARMAMENTS CONFERENCE

THE POWERS PROPOSALS

(Australian & N.Z. Cable Association.) (Received this day at 12.25 p.m.) GENEVA. Juno 20. A triparito naval armaments limitation conference has opened. M.r Hugh Gibson of United States, was appointed president. Each Power submitted proposals as the basis for discussion. The ■American proposal provides for the following strengths '“"■‘-of cruisers in United States and British Empire each 250,000 to 300,000 tons, Japan 150,000 to 180,000 tons. Destroyers, respectively 208,000 to 250,000 and 120,000 to 150,000. Submarines 60,000 to 90,000 and 36,000 to 54,C00. United States ’is willing to agree with all naval powers to abolish sub-

marines. Tlio Japanese proposal is firstly that no new building programme bo adopted, no new ships to be acquired for the purpose of increasing the naval strength; secondly, the naval strength of each Power shall be determined for surface, auxiliary craft and submarines respectively, on the basis of tonnages of existing, effective ships and ships under construction, not taking into consideration tonnages of ships authorised, hut not yet laid down, and ships attaining the age limit during the execution of authorised programmes; thirdly, construction or acquisition of ships in future to be limited to replacements, duo consideration being given to equalisation as far ns possible of the amount of annual constructions for replacements; fourthly, small ships and ships of limited activity to he exempt front limitation. The British proposal extends the life of existing capital ships to twenty-six, reduces future battleships from thirtyfive thousand to something under thirty thousand tons each, and their guns from 16 to 13.6 inches; limits aircraft carriers to 25,000 tons, with armaments six inch guns; accepts existing ratio of thousand ton cruisers carrying eight inch guns (number thereof required for each of three countries to he subject of discussion) ; limits future light cruisers to 7500 tons, rrmed with six inch guns, after the number of ten thousand tonners have been decided upon; limits destroyer leaders to 1750 and destroyers to 1400 tons; armament of destroyer to five inch guns. Limits larger submarines to 1600 and smaller to 600 tons, each being armed with five inch gun.

CONFERENCE PROPOSALS

(Received this dnv at 11.2,5 a.m.) Washington. June so. Administration circles believe the difference between American and British proposals for limiting auxiliar' naval craft are not serious enough to prevent an agreement. It is pointed out that the basic American principle of five-five-tliroc ratio is apparently acceptable to Britain, while thp United States Government will probably accept the British proposal limiting the size of submarines. This is in line with the American

delegations expressed willingness to outlaw submarines, if all nations agree, though such a step.is now impossible, because of French opposition. An official declared the British proposals to limit cruisers to 1506 ton ships, after the conference agrees on the number of ten thousand ton cruisers that may be permitted, will probably bo acceptable to (Tnitcd States. This would allow United States fifteen ten thousand ton ships to equal the same number already built or authorised by Britain.