BRITAIN, FRANCE, U.S.A.

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 2, 2 July 1938, Page 9

BRITAIN, FRANCE, U.S.A.

GERMANY SIGNS PROTOCOL

HOPES OF RUSSIA

(British Official Wireless.)

RUGBY, June 30

The First Lord of the Admiralty (Mr. A. Duff Cooper) made the following statement in the House of Commons today:—

"As a result of the discussions which have been taking place during the last three months by virtue of Article 25 of the 1936 Naval Treaty, a protocol providing for new battleship displacement limitation of 45,000 tons to replace the existing treaty limitation of 35,000 tons was signed today by England, France, and the United States.

"The existing maximum gun calibre of 16 inches remains unchanged.

"Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and India, not having directly participated in the escalation discussions, did not sign the protocol, but, with their consent, official Notes have been communicated to the American and French Embassies in London to the effect that they concurred in the new limitation.

"A protocol in similar terms was signed today by Britain and Germany. Agreement to the terms of a similar protocol with Soviet Russia has not yet been received, but it is hoped that a satisfactory reply will be received shortly.

"The new upper limit of 45,000 tons is higher than Britain desired, but represents the lowest figure on which agreement could be reached. Britain has informed all the naval Powers with whom she is in treaty relations that she does not intend for the present to build any capital ship which exceeds the standard displacement of 40,000 tons, and she trusts that other European naval Powers will similarly refrain from exceeding this figure for individual capital ships.

"Two British capital ships of the 1938 programme will carry 16-inch guns, but will not exceed the standard displacement of 40,000 tons."