NAVAL TREATY

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20906, 11 September 1939, Page 9

NAVAL TREATY

REVOKED BY BRITAIN TERMS OF RESTRICTIONS MAXIMUM TONNAGE AND GUNS The London Naval Treaty of 1936 to limit 'construction for six years, which England has renounced, was signed on March 25, 1936, by representatives of Great Britain, France and the United States, Japan having withdrawn on January 15, 1936, from the conference which preceded the treaty, although she left “ observers ” to watch the progress of the negotiations. In consequence she was not bound by its stipulations. Nor was Italy bound, although the Italian delegation was consulted on all points, and with some reservations agreed to the wording of the various reports. Germany and Soviet Russia stood outside the treaty. The treaty consisted of 32 highly complicated articles, the effect of which was summarised officially as follows: Maximum Maximum Displace- Gun ment Calibre Limitations Agreed. (Tons) (in.) Capital ships 35,000 14 Aircraft carriers .... 22,000 6.1 Light surface vessels (none to be built during treaty period) . 10,000 8 Light surface vessels (none to be built exceeding 8000 tons) . 6.1 Submarines 2,000 5.1 Flotilla leaders and destroyers were classed in. this table with cruisers as “ light surface vessels.” It was agreed that if any of the Powers which signed the Treaty of Washington did not accept the limit of 14in. guns for the maximum armament of capital ships, the maximum calibre was to be lGin. Not To Bo Constructed A “ zone of non-construction ” was also agreed to, by which no vessel was to be laid down of displacement ranging A curious provision was one by which a capital ship could not carry smaller guns than lOin. in her main battery. Limitations were also imposed on the number of guns an aircraft carrier could mount. They were not to exoeed ten of calibre not over 5.25in. An important change was the alteration of the time limit fixed for capital ships by the 1930 Treaty of London, by which they became obsolete in 20 years from completion. Their term of life was lengthened to 26 years. A British efTort to prohibit the submarine failed, and no change was made in the conditions. Escalator Clause An “ escalator ” clause of the same kind as that in the 1930 Treaty of London was provided in Article 6, by which, on giving due notice to the other Powers, any Power which regarded its national security as materially affected by the ‘‘actual or authorised amount of construction by any Power of light surface vessels *’ should have the right to lay down “ light surface vessels ... of any standard displacement up to 10,000 tons.” The whole of Part 111 of the treaty was devoted to an elaborate network of regulations for the advance notification and exchange of information regarding ships constructed. The effect was to hamper the country with the most highly developed shipbuilding industry, which was Great Britain. Minor Armaments Besides these conditions each Power was to give lists of its minor war vessels and auxiliaries with their characteristics, and information regarding the particular service they would be required for. The treaty was to have remained in force until December 31, 1942. The general effect of this treaty was to divert effort from the navies of the Powers to their air forces, where no elahoatee trammels existed. In air construction the great Powers had their hands free and were not required to communicate to their competitors secrets which would be of the utmost importance.