LIMITING NAVIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 15 December 1922, Page 5

LIMITING NAVIES.

STRICTER TREATY WANTED. MOVE BY UNITED STATES. STRENGTH OF SMALL CRAFT jtfy Telegraph.’—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Dec. 14, 8.45 p.m. Washington, Dec. 13. The House Appropriations Committee, reporting on the Naval Appropriations Bill, incorporated a request that President Harding should call a new naval armament limitation conference, in the hope that an agreement may be reached among the Powers to limit auxiliary naval vessels under 10,000 tons. The same Powers that signed the Washington Conference naval limitation treaty will be invited to ‘’the new conference. The committee points out that some nations are planning larger building programmes along lines not restricted by the Washington Conference. The report warns that the United States will not allow any nation to outbuild it in aircraft, submarines or other auxiliaries, if a limitation agreement cannot be reached in the form of the committee’s request, which necessitates Congressional approval. The committee recommended appropriations amounting to 290,220.812 dollars—a reduction of 546,935 below the current year’s appropriation. It provides a naval strength of 86,000 men. An appropriation of 41 million dollars is recommended for increasing the floating strength. If the entire naval building programme under the terms of the Washington Treaty was carried out, it would cost 88 million dollars.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.