SENSIBLE COMPROMISE

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 33, 8 February 1930, Page 9

SENSIBLE COMPROMISE

OPINION IN THE PKESS

\ ■ ■ (Received Sth February, 11 a.m.)

LONDON, 7th February. . Among the momentous events in the history of . Anglo-American relations will be the statement issued by Mr. Stimson last "night. This proposes to solve tho cruiser problem, which was unsolved by President Hoover and Mr. MacDonakl last year, by giving the- United Statps eighteen large cruisers and Britain fifteen, compensating Britain with 42,000 tons' advantago in small cruisers.

Tho "Daily Telegraph" naval correspondent says that if complete parity is to be achieved noxt year, Britain must presumably be prepared to scrap tho four Iron Dukes, now organised as a training squadron, and possibly also tho battle-cruiser Tiger. Tho United States must discard at least three battleships, tho Utah, Florida, and Arkansas or Wyoming. A sensible compromise'scorns to have been reached as regards cruiser tonnage. Tho difficulty of America's eighteen 8-inch gun ships against the British fifteen is removed by the proposed system of transfer between the 8-inch and 6-inch classes. Wo may take it for granted that competitive building in tho heavy cruiser class is now over between, the

United States and Britain. The same may be said, indeed, of every category of warship. Tho result will possibly bo unpalatable to American economists, as tho United States, ii} order to obtain parity, must build ten 10,000-ton cruisers in addition to- eight already afloat or on the stocks.

"The Times," in an editorial, says: "No ono in Britain Or tho United States regards war as within the range of possibility, but navies of ; an approximately equal strength willhelp-to put war completely out of tho question and givo tho nations a senso of comfort and security. The details will' require careful examination and, maybe, someadjustment, but the statement seems to offer, a basis acceptable to both countries. " , ; ;."■.. ,