NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17632, 8 December 1922, Page 9

NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

NEW CAPITAL SHIPS.

STATEMENT IN HOUSE OF LORDS.

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J (Received December 7th, 8,35 p.m.) LONDON, December 6. j, In the House of Lords, the Marquess ; °f Wnlithgow. Civil Lord of the Ad Inuralty, replying to Lord Sydenham, i said he could not make any definite statement regarding the laying down | of Bntaii.3 two new capital ships per- ; mitted under the Wasliiugt-on Naval | Treaty. j Lord- Lee, formerly First Lord of the ! Admiralty, said this statement filled him with alarm. The signatories to the Treaty agreed to scrap nineteen Brit- ; ;sh battleshij s, only on the understanding that Britain should lay down two capital ships, eirbodying the lessons of i tfi-tlsnd, which would be for our fleet a spearhead. Lord Salisbury said Lord Lee should • not assume ti;.-_t an rdverse decision had been reached. An announcement would ; he mace at tho earliest possiblo mo- '. ment. Lord Cave said a Cabinet Committee was considering the matter, and was expected to report prior to the new session. L'^ : 'me months beforo the cailing of tiie Washington Conference, the British Government had decided on the construction of four large capital ships to replace obsolescent tonnage. The new ships were to be of a new type, embodying the lessons learned in the battle of Jutland. None of these ships was laid down, however, and the signing of the Naval Limitation Treaty at Washington precluded any possibility of their construction being undertaken. Under the terms of the Washington Treaty" Britain was required to "scrap" twenty capital ships, ranging in age from seven to sixteen years, and was permitted to retain 22 capital ships, aggregating 580,4.50 tons. ' It was provided, however, that Britain might lay down this year two capital ships not exceeding 3.3,000 tons each, armed with 16 inch amis. On the completion of these ships the battleships Thunderer, Ajax, Centurion and King George V., included , in the 22 retained in commission, were to be scrapped.] RUSSIA AND THE WASHINGTON TREATY. (By Cable—Prss.? Awociation^-Copyrirht.) I (TJnitod Servioe.) "' PARIS, December 5. The admission of the Russians to the Lausanne Conference has created a new factor in .the question of ratificai tion of the Naval Treaty. The Washington Treaty does not limit the naval ! armament of Russia. If the Straits ! question is decided contrary to Russia's desires Russia wiu be at liberty to increase her naval strength. If she does, it is possible that other Powers will seize the pretext and declare it a breach of the Washington agreement. The "Temps" suggests that the treaty bo ratified with reservations enabling the Powers to modify the programme in accordance with any new situation created by Russia becoming a naval Power, or else- scrap the Washington agreement and negotiate a wider treaty, to include Russia. REDUCTION OF LAND ARMAMENT. FAR EASTERN AMERICAN PROPOSALS. (Received December 7th, 9.80 p.m.) NEW YORK, December 6. The Washington correspondent of the "New York Times" says President Harding's Administration hopes ultimately to succeed in interesting European nations in the proposal for a world reduotion of land armaments, the first step to. which is seen in the Central American conference which is now to be extended to all South America. The announcement is made, that the Pan-American Conference at Santiago (Chile) next March, will have as the chief item on its agenda, a reduction of naval and military armaments. Mr Hardirg's administration hopes for the success of both conferences, thus setting an example to the rest of the world, while it believes that until Europe balances her budgets by- reducing the cost of huge military establishments, economic stability is" impossible. It is interesting to note that the Uruguayan proposal,to form an American League of Nations comprising the United States and Latin America was amended by Mr Hughes to read that the Pan-American Conference should" consider measures for the closer association of the Republics in the American Cabinet with a view to promoting their common interests.