NAVAL REDUCTION

Hokitika Guardian, 16 August 1929, Page 6

NAVAL REDUCTION

BY U.S.A. AND BRITAIN.

([United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copy right).

NEW YORK, August .14.;

The ?fNew Yfork Times's” Washington correspondent states: Tliei’o was a Conference to-day between (President Hoover, Mr Adams, Mr Stimson, and members of the General Naval Board. Tliip brought to light, certain important facts, namely, that there was an encouraging prospect that formal Disarmament Conference would occur probably iii December- in London. It was indicated that there would probably be a harmonisation of conflicting views concerning the six thousand ton cruisers and ten thousand ton cruisers by giving a low valuation to tlie cruisers that would be employed mainly for policing the seas, as' compared with the cruisers effective in offensive ; warfare. The so-called “Yard Stick,” moreover, will be applied to as few oategorifes of vessels as possible—namely, cruisers and aeroplane carriers. The fundamental aim—on account of a popular sentiment in the United Statbs and in Britain against the a tual scrapping of any effective warships--will be to establish a basis for bringing about a curtailment of sea powfer by not replacing the ships that have reached a non-effective fighting state. It is understood that the British, under this "heading, contemplate building only thirty thousand tons hf:j new cruisers to replace seventy thousand tons which are approaching their age limit. Moreover, nineteen American cruisers are in the same condition, and they are to: be sold arid eliminated from the valuation dismissions. Mr Ramsay MacDonald will visit Washington prior to a forma! Naval Conference being called.

THE DANGER- AHEAD

■ NEW TURK, August 14

“The United States and Great Britain are heading for a collision bn the question of sea power, unless they agree on the real meaning of sea’ rights,” said Mr George Younfc, a member of the British Parliament, vflien speaking ibefore (tlie Arnis Limitation Committee at the lu-. stitute of Politics at Williamstown (Massachusetts). He further said: <{ T\vo fundamehta% different attitudes mark -the policy of the two nations. If it is to the command of the seas that the British owe their national existence and their colonial empire—in other words our daily bread—it is to the freedom of the seas that you Americans oive your national independence. To say that a collision over- the issue is" unthinkable is equivalent to saving:.. “We- don’t think.” Since tip? Great Whr I am aghast at'realising how far, and how fast, the United States aqjd British- ships of state have come athwart each : other's; course; and to-day are heading for a collision. •- •• •" As -a solution, he advocated the British renunciation of the command of the seas in respect to the right to declare a private blockage against a- private enemy,, and- also the Aitieriban. renunciation of, the freedom of the seas in respect to tlie right to supply the sinews of war to a public enemy. j