NEW ZEALAND ACTION

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 119, 22 May 1930, Page 9

NEW ZEALAND ACTION

CHECK.TO U.S. AMBITION

SENATOR'S DISCLOSURE

Uiiitcd Press Association—By Electric Tele

graph—Copyright (Received 22nd May, 10 a.m.)

WASHINGTON, 21st May

Senator Heed, member of the United States Naval Delegation to. tho London Conference, testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said that Australia and New Zealand refused to sign tho London Treaty if the United States were permitted to build twenty-one eight-inch-gun cruisers. Tho disclosuro was made in reply to Bear-Admiral J. R. Pringle's insistence that the United States should have maintained tho Navy General Board's demand for this number. Senator, Reed explained that Australia and New Zealand contended that this allotment for the United States would have increased Japan's cruiser allotment, thus constituting a threat to them. "Is not an honourable peace better than war?" Senator Reed asked. "Yes, sir," replied Admiral Pringle. "Well, is not it obvious that everyone had to make compromises at London. •Would you rather have seen tho Conference fail than make a concession?" Senator Reed continued. UPSETTING FAR EAST BALANCE. The Senator explained that tho two Dominions feared that the projected United States building programme would prompt Japan also to build, upsetting the balance in the Far East. "You know th a and New Zealand threatened," if the treaty gave us twenty-one eight-inch cruisers, to build some eight-inch cruisers of their own!" Admiral Priugle opposed tno cruiser reduction, bnt finally conceded under Senator Reed's persistent questioning that "it was _a very successful piece of negotiation on the part of the United States delegation." " . It is understood that Mr. Stimson has agreed tentatively to an exchange of Notes with Britain and Japan to clarify Article 19 of tho Treaty to answer-' the Senatorial objection that under it Britain could scrap six-inch-gun cruisers and begin building eight-inch-gun replacements, provided only that the latter were hot completed until the day.after tfie treaty expired in 1936.