NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 17 January 1930, Page 5

NAVAL CONFERENCE

BATTLESHIP OUTLAY

[United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.]

LONDON, Jan. 16

The "Daily Herald” points out that the Washington Treaty provided that no new battleships shall he built until after 1936, but, meantime, permitted Hit' replacement of the. snips that became obsolete, inasmuch as they were twenty years old. Under this arrangement, Britain would, ill 1931, lay down two battleships for completion in 1931, when her “Iron Duke” class of battleships became obsolete. Two more battleships would bo laid down by Britain in 1932, one in 1933. two in 1934, one in 1935, and two in 193 G. Therefore, within the Washington Treaty period, Britan would have either built or building ten battleships at a cost of £7,003.000 for each ship. Tile United States during the same period would a 1 so have laid down ten battleships, while the French, Italian, Japanese and other Powers would have some also.

The Daily Herald adds approvingly, the late Lord Fisher’s advice In reference to battleships; “Scrap the lot!”

WHAT AMERICANS GUESS

NEW YORK, Jan. 1 16

The “Now York Times’s” Washington correspondent says: Mr MacDonald’s declaration for the abolition oi battleships lias been received here with some surprise. Unofficially, it is regarded as being at least a partially favourable reaction to the recent campaign of certain . British newspapers and of some elements of the Labour Party for the elimination of all h'g naval craft, in view of the United States and Japanese attitude regarding battleships. Jt is believed here that the suggestion will not he adopted, any more than the British-United States proposal to abolish submarines, it is recognised here that should Air MacDonald point out at the conference that Britain, after urging vainly the abolition of battleships, was prepared as tlie next suggestion, to limit them heavily, this might prove to be a strong trading point in inducing France and Japan to consent to a restriction in submarines. Altogether, Mr MacDonald's desire for a reduction of all categories is strongly welcomed here, and will find the United States collaborating.

BATTLESHIPS TOp COSTLY

LONDON, Jan. 16,

Air Ramsay MacDonald, at nis conference with the British Dominion and Foreign Pressmen at the Foreign Offico said : !

Battleships cost seven millions. Viewed in the light of efficiency, v.ith the developments of other arms, Hie cost makes these, in the British Government’s view, very doubtful propositions. The Government would really like to see the Powers agree to a process whereby battleships would disappear. The suggestion now made, concerning a [reduction in the size and the gun power of battleships might form a transitional phase towards the final scrapping of these huge, expensive craft. There is also a suggestion that the replacement of battleships might be deferred \ till 1935-6, instead of next year, as under the Washington Treaty.'

PRESS CRITICISAI

OF GOVERNMENT’S CRUISER

ATTITUDE

LONDON, Jan. 16

The Prime Minister, Air Ramsay MacDonald, received the Dominion delegates to the Five Power Naval Conference at Number 10, Downing Street, and it was officially announced in the evening that the meeting had satisfactorily concluded. M. r MacDonald also received more than two hundred British, Dominion and foreign newspaper representatives wlm will describe the conference. Thereafter an official spokesman expounded the general views of the British Government. One most important point of these is a clear indication that the Government favours the complete abolition of battleships and submarines. The question oi cruisers is, apparently, still an open

The “Daily Telegraph” in an editorial, complains:—“When the Government was asked whether the Dominions had agreed to its policy, involving alarming reductions there was no answer. Viie paper infers that the Dominions either have not been consulted, or have not been given time to come to a decision.

The Australian Press lias deduced that the official spokesman was not in a position to know what happened at the meeting of Mr MacDonald with the Dominion delegations. This doe« not effect the “Daily Telegraph’s” points, as to consultation before there was a decision, instead of when a decision had been fixed or practically so. Air Hector By water, the “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent asserts:—“The Cabinet is inclined to

regard battleships as being an anachronism, owing to overhead and underwater attack. That, however, is not tho view of tlibe Admiralty sea lords.”

BRITISH PROPOSALS

LONDON, Jan. 16

Exactly Ivliat- are the British intentions at the Naval Conference regarding battleships, is being prominently discussed in the newspapers. The general feeling' is the Government will not propose an immediate abolition. This might be the cherished dream of Cabinet idealists, who are prepared to go to any lengths in disarmament for tne sake of world peace, but in deference to Admiralty experts, Mr MacDonald will probably be content to seek lengthening the life of existing ships and avoid replacement, hut if the latter is necessary there should be smaller, tonnage and gun calibres.

GERMANY'S NEW CRUISER

LONDON, Jan. 16,

There is no doiiing the fact that Germany has set a new problem with her pocket battleship, Ersatz Preussen, which is claimed to be able to smash any cruiser and also escape any battleship. The Ersatz is a very direct reminder of the need of most extreme care and foresight in fixing tiie new tonnage limits of battleships, because she is virtually a battleship within the Washington cruiser limit.

THE KING

NO PAGEANT FOR OPENING

RUGBY, Jan. 16

There is to he no State pageantry about the King’s journey from Buckingham Palace to the House of Lords on Tuesday to declare the Naval Conference open. His Majesty will drive in a closed motor car and wear morning dress.

His Majesty will travel to London from Sandringham on Monday, arriving at Buckingham Palace about midday. In the afternoon he will receive the heads of the different Naval delegations. This reception will' be in the nature of a private greeting to enable His Majesty to make the acquaintance of the delegates, and wish them success in their labours.

The King will return to Sandringham on Tuesday afternoon, after a stav of 24 hours in London.

NAVAL POLICY

DOMINIONS SATISFIED

LONDON, January 16

It is learned that there is foundation for the anti-Government press suggestion that Dominion delegates were mot consulted in reference to the British Government’s policy. A Dominion representative states: —“Mr MacDonald so fully ably and completely outlined the policy that the Dominion delegates of their own volition cancelled the arrangements for a further meeting to-day.”

FRENCH OPINION

PARIS, January 16

French semi-official opinion is that Mr MacDonald is not expressing the British Navy’s view when he advocates the abolition of capital ships. M. Tardieu does not conceal the opinion that the conference will reveal a wide divergence between British and American views regarding battleships, enabling France to counter any concerted move to abolish submarines. Both Foreign and Navy officers in France definitely decline to assent to the abolition of submarines, till all surface ships have been abolished.