WILD GUESSING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 152, 30 June 1927, Page 7

WILD GUESSING.

LATEST ARMS CANARD.

Alleged Bargaining By Japan And Britain. SINGAPORE ISSUE. (By Cable—Press Association.—Copyright.) (Received 10 a.m.) LONDON, June 29. An Australian Press Association message from Geneva says that in the absence of an authoritative announcement of any agreement, foreign journalists, notably Americans, are indulging iu the wildest guessing.

The latest canard is that Japan is bargaining to support Britain's capital ship policy provided that Japan is allowed to raise the question of the Singapore base.

There is the fullest justification for saying that Japan has not the slightest intention of directly raising the Singapore controversy, though perhaps mention of it will inevitably crop up when America claims equality with Britain in tho matter of cruisers, on the ground that she needs more because she does not possess a chain of bases like Britain, including Singapore. Tho teclinical committee to-day exchanged views on destroyers, on which thero was seemingly a considerable measure of agreement. Mr. Hugh Gibson and Admiral Jones (U.S.) corroborated the Dominions' representatives' statement that conversations on the major question were marked by the friendliest spirit. Admiral Jones explained that America's present preponderance of destroyers was due to feverish wartime building at the behest of the Allies to counter the German submarines.

He drew attention to the conflicting figures given of cruiser strength; for instance, Admiral Sir Frederick Field (Britain) last week stated that Japan's proposal gave Britain 02, America 15, and Japan 29. This was based on Japan's proposed age-limit, but the disparity was less marked if older ships were included. Experts were not concerned so much with quantity as in finding a common basis from which to embark on limitation.

Everybody is mystified, as to the nature of tho new Japanese instructions, but it is generally accepted that the question of capital ships will not arise until agreement has been reached over the smaller types. CRUISER PROPOSALS. Britain's Plan Considered By Technicians. PROVISIONS EXPLAINED. iPritish Official Wireless.) (Received 11.30 a.m.) RUGBY, June 29. A preliminary examination of the proposals relating to cruisers took place yesterday in the technical committee of tho Three-Power Naval Conference at Gcnevq. The British plan is to divide these ships into two classes, one up to 10,000 tons with 8-inch guns and the other up to 7500 tons with 6-inch guns.

The Japanese and American delegations both requested time to debato this proposal and its effect on their navies during the life of the Washington Treaty.

The reason for the British proposal to so divide the cruiser class is that Great Britain is prepared to accept the existing ratio of 5 —5—3 for S-inch gun cruisers and to discuss with the United States and Japan the numbers which each of the three countries require and then, after agreement has been reached as to these numbers, to limit all future cruisers to 7500 tons and 6-inch guns.

The British argument is that an Sineh gun cruiser is suitable for operating in conjunction with a battle fleet where the proportion is roughly five cruisers to three battleships, and that the Washington ratio can appropriately be applied to them, but apart from this the displacement of 10,000 tons is considered too large and an S-inch gun unduly heavy for cruisers engaged 011 other scrvice. It is also felt that the proposed limitation could be adopted without impairing their .proper functions. Capital Ships. It is understood Japan regards favourably the British proposals regarding capital ships.

Admiral Saito is reported as stating that Japan realises the importance of the British desire to have the question of limitation of future tonnage of capital ships discussed now and that Japan is ready to consider any proposal tending to reduce naval armaments from whatever quarter it comes. UNACCOMMODATING. AMERICA'S MOOD. GENEVA, June 29. Tho American delegates to the naval arms limitation conference interpret the statements made by Admiral Saito and Viscount Ishii (Japan) about capital ships as foreshadowing Japanese support of Britain's ideal.

The Americans nevertheless maintain an unaccommodating mood in respect to a plan which naval experts say would save the three Powers at least £100,000,000.

Foreign observers comment that the conveners of the conference are now championing the maintenance of the largest and most expensive battleships. Yesterday, for the first time, Mr. Gibson expatiated upon Washington's claim for equality with Britain in every category of ships.