GREAT MORAL EFFECT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 50, Issue 155, 12 April 1930, Page 7

GREAT MORAL EFFECT

THE THREE-POWER TREATY ALL CLASSES INCLUDED. SCRAPPING OF BATTLESHIPS. (United Press Association— Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.35 a.m.) LONDON, April 11. The results of the Naval Conference were reviewed bv Mr A. J. Alexandei (First Lord of the Admiralty) id a speech at Sheffield. He said that Britain had arrived at a complete ap cement with Japan and the United States on all classes of ships, and,—what was most important to remember,— upon very* much lower figures than the last proposals made to the Geneva Conference in 1927. Moreover the Powers had mutually agreed to waive— pending a further Conference in 193o—tneir rights under the Washington Treaty in the building of capital ships provided in that treatv to be laid down from 1931 onwards* It had also been agreed to reduce the numbers of capital ships to the minimum figures provided tor in the Washington Treaty, with the least nossible delay instead of waiting until ‘ 1936. This meant the early scrapping tof five British battleships, three American, and one Japanese. Another great achievement had been the rectification of the tendency to build the largest size cruiser permitted under the Washington Treaty. Mr Alexander said he thought the greatest value of the agreement already secured was to be found in the helpful moral effect created. There was also a valyable economic advantage in the reduction of expenditure.—British Official Wireless.

TRIBUTE TO THE PRESS.

DISCREET HANDLING OF MATTER (Received This Day, 9.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 11. In the name of Britain, the Prime Minister (Mr J. Ramsay MacDonald) has issued to journalists the following statement regarding the Naval ConferGIIOC l “We are very well satisfied. I trunk the agreement is' a substantial step in the direction toward which we have been striving in the face of difficulties which at times appeared to be almost unsurmountable. “We are most grateful to the Press for the way it has helped us, not only for wliat it has said but also for what it left unsaid.” TONNAGE CLASSIFICATION. POSITION OF THE POWERS. LONDON, April 10. It is understood that the tonnages under the three-Power agreement will be as under: —

The following figures show the comparatiye strengths of the four principal classes of vessels now existent : Battle- Crui- De- Submar-

DRAFTING THE TREATY. MAY BE SIGNED ON THURSDAY (Received This Day, 11.5 a.m.) LONDON, April 11Following a meeting of the heads of delegations, a communique was issued stating that the meeting appointed a committee of jurists to draft a treaty, assisted by' experts. Sir Maurice Hankey (Secretary to the British Cabinet) has been appointed chairman of this committee. A plenary session will be held on Thursday, when the treaty will be signed, if possible. The heads recognise that the drafting of the treaty is a complicated business, and may not be finished by Thursday. If it is not completed, the-.signing will take place, as soon after Easter as possible, and for this purpose the heads will presumably remain here.

MR HOOVER’S APPROVAL. AMERICAN DELEGATION PRAISED. (Received This Day, 11.20 a.m.) WASHINGTON, April 11. President Hoover said to-day that he had communicated to the American naval delegation his approval of the results achieved. He commended the members of the delegation foi* their courageous action and most constructive accomplishment in the abolition of competition in the construction of naval arms OBJECTION TO THE AGREEMENT. SMALL CRUISERS NOT WANTED. (Received This Day, 10.50 a.m.) M T ASHINGTON, April 11. Curtailment of the big cruiser programme, already approved Congress, is foreseen. The principal source of any opposition to the London naval agreement that may arise will he in the Senate. The accord is interpreted as meaning

that of 23 vessels of this type authorised, five will not .be built. The big navy group has insisted that all are essential to adequate national defence. In general the agreement is regarded as effecting a great saving of expenditure on capital ships and big cruisers, but it necessitates a large outlay on small cruisers if parity with Britain is to be obtained. Mr W. E. Britten (chairman of the House of Representatives’ Naval Committee) estimates this expenditure at £21,800,000. On this ground Mr Britten vigorously objected to the agreement, asserting that the small cruiser was not needed., by the United States and should not be built. The "British Admiralty, he said, had taken this chance to assure British predominance on the sea for all time.

Eight-inch Gun Cruisers— British Empire ... United States Japan Tonnage 146,800 180,000 108,400 Six-inch Gun Cruisers — British Empire ... United States Japan 192,000 149,500 100,450 Destroyers— British Empire ... United States Japan 150,000 150,000 105,000 Submarines — British Empire ... United States Japan 52,700 52,700 52,700

ships. sers. stroyers. ines. Britain . 16 <58 134 53 U.S.A. \ 18 14 1 309 122 Japan France 6 9 41 17 106 58 64 52 Italy 4 13 63 43