NAVY CUT.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 72, 26 March 1928, Page 7

NAVY CUT.

BRITISH PROPOSALS.

Scheme To Reduce National Expenditure.

NOTE TO POWERS.

(By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright.)

(Received 10.30 a.m.)

GENEVA, March 25.

The British delegate to Geneva, Lord Cushendun, has addressed a Note to the American, French and i Japanese representatives at the sittings of the Preparatory Committee on Disarmament.

In this he explains that when he W8 ■ replying to the Russian observer, Litvinoff, on Tuesday, he was compelled to refer indefinitely to the readiness of Britain to reduce the size of her capital ships.

Lord Cushendun said he was now able to reveal the British proposals. They were:—

(1) The reduction of battleships from 35,000 tons to under 30,000 tons.

(2) The reduction of guns from 16in to 13.5 in.

(3) An extended life for the ships of from 20 to 26 years or thereabouts.

These proposals would involve the waiving by Britain of her powers and rights under the Washington Treaty.

Lord Cushendun urged that these reductions, if they were accepted, should be introduced to enable them to become effective before the replacement of the ships under the treaty was due. The proposals constituted a great step toward disarmament and would ensure considerable economies.

In view of Mr. Hugh Gibson (U.S.A.) being present at Geneva Lord Cushendun's offer of a naval reduction ia dramatic. If agreement is reached on capital ships it is reasonable to expect that the cruiser discussion will be resumed.

—(A. and N.Z. and Sydney "Sun.")

AMERICA WANTS MORE.

CRUISERS AND 'PLANES.

NEW YORK, March 25.

The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says Mr. F. Hale, chairman of the Naval Committee of the Senate, and Mr. T. L. Oddie, a Republican member of the committee, conferred with the President, Mr. Coolidge, yesterday on the Naval Bill. Mr. Hale declined to say what the attitude of the Senate would be toward the House of Representatives' Bill.

Mr. Oddie, however, said the Senate appeared to be in favour of more cruisers and extra aeroplanes. Therefore, he thought the provisions of the measure would be increased. The Democrats and Independent Republicans in the Senate are reported to be in favour 6f the bill.