CONCERN IN JAPAN

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 582, 7 February 1929, Page 11

CONCERN IN JAPAN

5-5-3 RATIO WILL BE AFFECTED COSTLY COMPETITION (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9.5 a.m. TOKYO, Wednesday. The reported passage of the 15-Cruiser Bill by the American Senate is arousing the keenest interest. Japanese naval experts are foreseeing the country’s inability, for financial reasons, to maintain the 5-5-3 proportion allowed by the Washington Treaty of 1922. A later message from Washington says that as passed by the Senate, the Bill provides for the building within the time stated of 15 new 10,000ton cruisers at a cost of £3,400,000 each, and the aircraft carrier at a cost of £3,800,000. Eight of the* cruisers are to be built at the Government’s navy yards, and the remainder at private plants. The Secretary of the Navy, Mr. Curtis D. Wilbur, is asked to submit to Congress estimates for the construction of two salvage ships, for use in connection with maritime disasters, as soon as possible. The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, Mr. W. E. Borah, moved an amendment to the effect that an effort be made to secure an international agreement for the codification of t*e laws of the sea. This was adopted. RIGHT OF SEARCH IS IT WORTH THE RISK? NO MOVE BY AMERICA (-*4. ustra-lian cud jV.iJ. I'tcus ji ssociationj iUnitea ServiceJ Reed. 1.44 p.m., LONDON, Wed. Replying in the House of Commons to a question by the Hon. Joseph Wedgwood (Labour), Foreign Secretary, Sir Austen Chamberlain, said that the United Statese had not approached him with reference to a conference with the object of arranging a treaty guaranteeing the immunity of private property from seizure at sea. “Do the advantages thought to be gained by insisting on our right of search outweigh the drawbacks of armament competition and also the risk of bringing America into any war against us?” asked Mr. Wedgwood. Sir Austen deprecated the tendency to put questions concerning Britain’s relations with America when the respective naval conditions of the two countries were under consideration. NEW BRITISH CRUISER H.M.S. LONDON COMMISSIONED British Official Wireless RUGBY, Wednesday. The new British 10,000-ton cruiser London, the first of four of her type provided for in the 1925 programme, was commissioned at Portsmouth today by Captain Rogers. The vessel is to go to the Mediterranean, where she will be the flagship of the First Cruiser Squadron. The London was laid down at Portsmouth in February, 1926, and launched in September, 1927. Lord Ebbisham, formerly Sir Rowland Blades, who was Lord Mayor of London, 1926-27, has collected 50 prints illustrating the history of the ships which have borne the name London. These are to be given to the Admiralty for the new cruiser. A suggestion has been made that the London should come up the Thames as close to the city as possible for the presentation. The London is the eighth vessel of that name.