NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 February 1930, Page 6

NAVAL CONFERENCE

THE TONNAGE QUESTION.

United Press Association.—By Electrio

Telegraph.—Copyright.)

LONDON, Feb. 7

In the reduction of tho| present capital ships, the situation is that Britain has twenty, United States eighteen, Japan ten. The Washington Treaty compels Britain and United States to reduce to fifteen by 1936, wherefore of her twenty Britain scraps ten and may build five new ships. United States scraps eight of eighteen, and builds five. Japan scraps four of ten, and builds three. Britain hopes an agreement for the abolition of battleships in view of their doubtful value., owing to the cost and also the development of aerial, and submarine efficiency, but in any case expects an exchange of Conference delegates views on the suggested reduction of sii4e from thirty-five thousand to twenty-five thousands ton, sixteen inch to twelve inch guns, and the lengthening of the age from twenty to twenty-six years. The Government would limit tonnage, gun calibre and aircraft carriers and suggests vessels of ten thousand tons and under to be employed as aircraft carriers should be included in the total tonnage. The proposed reduction of Anglo-American aircraft tonnage from 135 thousand to one hundred thousand and adjusting of othei nations quotas to Washington ratios. ' Anglo-American conversations • have assumed a subdivision of cruiseis into eight inches and six inches, Britain’s requirements being fifty cruisers of i a total tonnage of 339 thousand and , a life of twenty years. ’ The Conference decision regarding : limitation of size of units to govern ! the final arrangements.

The proposed limit of tonnage of destroyers is 1850 for leaders and fifteen hundred for the others. The maximum gun calibre of both is five inches.

The present British building programme envisages a total destroyer tonnage of two hundred thousand, \ reduceable if the other Powers modify the submarine programmes. Britain (proposes the abolition of submarines otherwise their limitation to defence requirements at the lowest possible [limit and urges regulation off employment of submarines and ! anti-mefcliant ships. LONDON, Feb. 7.

It is understood, on the best authority that Messrs MacDonald and I gtimson 'in the light of America’s new proposals determined if they ; were unable to reconcile the Franco- ■ Italian demands in a general scheme, ■ the Conference will produce a definite satisfactory Anglo-American-i Japanese agreement on tonnage. | The Committee appointed yesterday made considerable progress and meets again on February Bth.