Problem of Big Ships

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 897, 14 February 1930, Page 9

Problem of Big Ships

NAVAL EXPERTS KEPT BUSY

Powers Keen to Disarm

CONFERENCE RECORDS REAL PROGRESS

TWO questions of: extreme moment confront the delegates to the Five-Power Naval Conference in London. One is the reconciliation of the nations’ views on the proposed abolition of submarines, and the other is the assessment of a basis for equitably reducing the tonnage of fleers. Experts are busily engaged in negotiating with the delegates. The French Press complains that the real problems of the conference are being overlooked. All Powers are reported to be anxious for naval disarmament.

United A. —By Telegraph—Copyright Reed. 11.30 a.m. RUGBY, Thursday. A.t the Naval Confex-ence today proceedings consisted of private talks between the delegates, among these being a conversation between M. Tardieu, Mr. Hugh Gibson and Mr. MacDonald in a private room of Mr. MacDonald’s in the House of Commons, and further work by the experts, who have now before them a document which constitutes the framework of the compromise proposals on the alternative methods for the limitation of naval armaments. Actual figures of requirements by the different Powers are now being produced, and progress is being made. The experts have today been considering the so-called special vessels, which do not naturally fall into the categories, taking as the basis of their work the document regardiixg such craft upon which a provisional agreement was reached at the 1927 Geneva Naval Conference. FLEiET CURTAILMENT In the House of Commons the Prime Minister was asked by Mr. Baldwin what were the naval standards in respect of cruisers, and what were the reasons for a variation by which the Admiralty would be guided at the present time, and which had led to variation of those standards which were enforced by the late Government. He asked also what was the programme of naval replacement construction which the Government considered necessary to sustain in the approved standai'd during the next six years. Replying, Mr. MacDonald said the decision to take a reduced number of 50 cruisers as the minimum required for our needs had been reached by taking into account a measure of security accorded by the signatures to the Pact of Paris for the renunciation of war by most of the nations of the world, including all the naval Powers —not only those who were members of the League, but also the United States. With such powerful support for the pact, the Government felt justified in looking forward to a period in which armed conflict need not be expected. The proposed reduction in the number of cruisers to 50 was of course dependent on an agreement at the Naval Confei-ence and a limitation of the projected building programme being made by other Powers, and would be for a period covered by such agreement. The programme of replacement must, to a certain extent, depend on the nature of agreements which might be reached at the Naval Conference, and it was not possible to sate what they would be.

FRENCH QUERIES

REAL PROBLEMS IGNORED Reed. 11 a.m. PARIS, Thursday. The Press generally approves tbe delegation’s activities, but “Le Matin” asks: Against whom are they arming? The answer, it says, is that former allies are measuring the strength of one another as possible enemies. What then happens to the League of Nations? It is for France to raise the question. If the public regards the conference with scepticism and lassitude, it says, it is because the real problems are not being treated.

JAPAN’S DEMANDS

MUST HAVE SAFETY FORCE ANXIOUS FOR REDUCTION Reed. 11.5 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. The Japanese spokesman, in officially reaffirming Japan’s attitude in insisting on 70 per cent, of all craft,

except battleships and aircraft carriers, said that, while determined to contribute their full share, '.owerd pji all-round reduction, they desired to maintain sufficient force to ensure her safety. Over-strict application of either the global or the categorical principles would not tend toward an agreement among the Powers. Japan favoured a formula harmonising both extremes, and permitting transfers in certain categories. She will willing not to lay down any capital ships till 1936, but urged an agreement reducing the size from 35,000 to 25,000 tons, a maximum gun calibre of 14 inches, and the lengthening of the age limit from 20 to 26 years. But she proposed to retain her present submarine strength. The “Daily Telegraph’s” diplomatic contributor understands that, with a view to persuading Japan to abate her 70 per cent, ratio demand, the American delegation has been considering the naval neutralisation of the Philippines. The correspondent learns also that Mr. Ramsay MacDonald has acquainted the Americans with the British Government’s unfavourable view of the United States’ supei'-dreadnought of the Rodney type suggestion. The Japanese statement was in the possession of Mr. MacDonald last evening, and probably the other delegation heads, hut hitherto thei-e has been no discussion on the scrapping of battleships. The seeming obscurity of the measurements of these ships is entirely due to the existence of the two methods of computation. There has been no change in actualities or ships. Mr. MacDonald, Mr. Stimson, and M. Tardieu will also discuss the general position between the three countries. The experts committee in the forenoon discussed the small unclassified vessels, and have not yet reached submarines. There is little possibility of a plenary session this week.

FLEETS COMPARED

BRITAIN’S LOWER—OTHER POWERS INCREASE

PRE-WAR FIGURES British Official Wireless Reed. 11.28 a.m. RUGBY, Thursday. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. A. V. Alexander, has supplied the information requested by the members of Parliament, comparing the total tonnages of completed warships of the British Empire, Japan, and the United States in August, 1914, with those at the end of last yeai\ The classes of vessels included in the figures are battleships, cx'uisers, aircraft carriers, destroyers, torpedoboats, and submarines, and the figures for 1914 are reckoned on tbe Navy List displacements, while the cux-rent figures, except for the battleship category, are estimated on “standard” displacements. The figures show that in August, 1914, the British Empire’s naval tonnage total was 2,160,326, which, by the end of last year, had been reduced to 1,201,930. tons. Japan’s 1914 total of 522,082 had increased to 771,908, and the United States’s 1914 total of 848,403 had increased to 1,095,992 tons. The British Empire’s total personnel has been reduced over the same period from 151,047 to 106,023. Japan’s has increased from 50,645 to 85,000, and America’s has increased from 67,258 to 114.500.