NAVAL HOLIDAY.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 March 1922, Page 5

NAVAL HOLIDAY.

BRITAIN GIVES LEAD. DRASTIC REDUCTIONS. MILLIONS SAVED. By Teleffraph.—Press Asm. —Copyright. London. March 16. the House of Commons, Mr. L. C. Amery (Financial Secretary to the Admiralty), in presenting the naval estimates, said that since the war Britain had pursued a policy of drastic reduction in naval armaments. She had scrapped 2% million tons of warships, abandoned the construction of new capital ships, and led the world in the inauguration of a complete naval holiday. The American and Japanese programmes had partially checked this, but the Washington Conference enabled us, while maintaining the one Power standard, to effect far-reaching reductions and save hundreds of millions in the next decade.

POLICY OF JAPAN.

LITTLE NAVAL BUILDING. BEADY TO REDUCE ARMY’. Received March 17, 9.10 p.m. New York, March 16. A, despatch from Tokio states that Baron Xato, in a speech in the House of Peers, declared that the Government did not propose any material increase in its present programme of building submarines and auxiliary craft. The Government was willing to reduce military expenditure to the lowest figures.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. FEELING IN AMERICA. ATTACK ON THE TREATY. AMERICAN SENATE BUSY. Received' March 17, 5.5 p.m. Washington, March 16. The Senatorial attack on the Armament Conference treaties has switched to the Naval Limitation Treaty. It was declared that its ratification would place the United States in grave danger. The whole status of naval powers under the treaty had been misrepresented to the Senate and the American people. Senator Reed challenged the members of the American delegation to produce the confidential reports of naval experts regarding the relative naval strengths of the United States, Britain and Japan. He said that under the Four-Power and Naval Treaties “you are making it impossible for us to defend the Philippines and Guam, or for us to go and attack Japan.” Like that of yesterday, to-day’s debaie in the Senate on the Four-Power Treaty lagged at times, there being less than six Senators present. Senator Reed delivered the only speech, which attacked the Nawil Disarmament Treaty, together with the Four-Power Pact.

Senator Reed declared: “We agree to yield to Japan 26,000 (?) islands in the Pacific, a vast number of which can be used as aeroplane bases and landing place*, and many for naval bases. We also agree not to fortify Guam or strengthen the fortifications in the Philippines. Thus we are placed in a position capable of being at acked. Our possessions are left without security, because the Four-Power Treaty, according to its advocates, does not bind its signatories.”—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.