DISARMAMENT.

Hokitika Guardian, 6 July 1927, Page 2

DISARMAMENT.

(By Telegraph—Per Press Association.) NAVAL PARLEY. LONDON, July 4. The Daily Telegraph’s Paris correspondent says'-: Unless a compromise is rerfelfed alien the leaders of the Naval Conference liteet privately, there may he an abrupt ending to tlie Conference. The British proposal is that the maximum tonnage for cruisers and destroyers should he 800,000 tons, of which 590,000 tons shall be the cruisers’ maximum. The British delegates argue that Britain wants seventy cruisers to protect trade routes. At present Britain lias seventy-one cruisers, either built. Iniii'ding or laid down. Against Britain's seventy-one America has only fifteen cruisers of recent construction, and America would thus require to build fifty-six cruisers, costing two millions each, to equal Britain. ’I lie British Dominion delegations support the British proposal. Japan is anxious to maintain the ten thousand ton cruisers, whereas Britain wants a reduction in the size of cruisers to 7500 ions. RACK IN CRUISERS. GENEVA. July 5. As the Americans were desirous of celebrating Independence Day yesterday, no meeting of the Naval Conference was held. Admiral Jones, addressing a large gathering, however, utilised the occasion to explain America’s naval policy, lie said that when the United States, in the war time, because a great sen Power, she foresaw the danger of the shipbuilding race. Secretary Hughes was too optimistic in hoping that an agreement to limit the capital ships would also slop ihe cruiser competition. In the last few years, he said, there had been marked cruiser building in which the United States did not participate. This cruiser building threatened to become almost as costly as the earlier battleship race.

He said: “We are here to extend the Washington principle, hut at the same time to allow sufficient latitude to enable a Power to build vessels of each class according to its individual needs.” Admiral Jones cited trade figures apropos of Britain’s long communications. ITo pointed out that America’s aggregate domestic sea-borne commerce was nearly 170 million cargo tons per year, which total is half as big again