AMERICA’S WARSHIPS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 681, 5 June 1929, Page 9

AMERICA’S WARSHIPS

BUILDING PROGRAMME TO PROCEED PLANS NOT MODIFIED (Australian and N.Z. Press AssociationJ (United Service) WASHINGTON, Monday. President Hoover has no intention of modifying or abandoning the United States Government’s cruiser-building programme, as has been suggested by some people. Tbe latter sought to interpret the President’s Memorial Day address and the statement on disarmament made by the Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, as implying that. It is pointed out in Government circles that the construction of 15 additional 10,000-ton cruisers was made mandatory by Congress at least until an agreement for a reduction in sea power is reached by the leading nations and ratified by the Senate. NAVAL DISARMAMENT OPTIMISTIC REPORTS FROM WASHINGTON BOLD STROKE EXPECTED (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) WASHINGTON, Monday. Dispatches from London indicate that it is expected in Britain that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald will initiate a discussion on the reduction of naval armaments if he becomes Prime Minister. There is a growing conviction in Washington, therefore, that the world is on the verge of another great attempt to bring about disarmament. It is generally believed that the President, Mr. Hoover, will shortly announce a bold stroke on his own initiative. He ha.s asked naval experts to formulate naval reduction plans. It is understood that Mr. C. G. Dawes, the new United States Ambassador to Britain, will sail for London on Friday with full authority to open negotiations for fresh consideration of the subject. He may have a naval formula in his pocket.