POWERS MUZZLED

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 971, 14 May 1930, Page 9

POWERS MUZZLED

CONSCIENCE CLAUSE IN LONDON TREATY STIMSON GIVES HIS VIEW Reed. 10.15 a.in. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. Mr. H. L. Stimson, Secretary of State, continuing his testimony before the Senate Committee, in reply to a question, said “the availability of merchantships entered into the question tion’’ of combat strength, “but it would have been impossible to include that in the treaty.” Mr. Stimson, replying to a question by Senator Johnson, said: “Some naval officers do not consider the Rodney and the Nelson markedly superior to the United States battleships.’ He denied that battleships had become obsolete or that the eight-inch gun cruisers could take the place of the latter. He added that the treaty would save £80,000,000 in battleship replacement costs. Defending the “escalator clause” of the London Treaty, Mr. Stimson, upon a question from Senator Borah, said: “We thought this was the best means because it places the building on the conscience of a Power, which must get up and say her security is menaced. We thought public opinion would prevent any nation lightly having recourse to the clause.” Mr. Stimson added he believed the British Labour Government would consider it a matter for regret and mortification if it were necessary to build under this clause.