NAVAL LIMITATION

Grey River Argus, 15 February 1938, Page 5

NAVAL LIMITATION

JAPANESE PARLEY OFFER ILS.A, Going For Bigger Navy [Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn.] (Received February 14,8.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 13. Japan’s reply regarding naval armaments has left the door open for an international consultation on armament limitation. President Roosevelt, however, is said to believe that the present time is not favourable for such a conference, says the Washington correspondent of the United Press. It is expected Mr Roosevelt will invoke the “escalator” clause, and will issue orders to increase the tonnage of the three battleships which are contemplated in Secretary Vinson's authorisation bill, from thirty-five thousand to between forty-three and forty-five thousand tons, and to have them armed with eighteen-inch guns. ADMIRAL’S BOOST. FOR NAVAL EXPANSION. (Received February 14, 8.25 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 15. The Roosevelt Government’s naval programme has received a strong boost from > Rear-Admiral Woodward, Commandant of the Third Naval District. In one of the frankest statements. he referred to world unrest. He said to the correspondent of the United Press: “The United States must rush an adequate naval defence programme, so as to defeat gangster dictators, and to avoid becoming the Ethiopia or the China of the Western Hemisphere.” Amplifying his remarks to the United Press correspondent, Rear-Admiral Woodward- said: “Certain nations are seeking for a larger place in the. sun. They are terrorising the civilised world. They have sabotaged peace since the end of the Great War. This is the writing on the wall. For If the United States should continue to be unprepared, undoubtedly we would be forced into another war, should the present sabre-rattling in .Europe and Asia produce one. Security, under nebulous treaties, is a fiction, because the stronger nations will Invoke the law of the jungle against the weaker ones. History records in its obituary columns those who were inadequately prepared. As to finance, let us not weaken our security by false ideas of economy. Money would thus be wisely spent. It may prevent embroilment in a major conflict.” OPPOSITION TO NAVAL RACE. CONGRESSMEN FEAR WAR MAY FOLLOW. NEW YORK, February 13. Mr Maverick, Member of the House of Representatives, will introduce in Congress a motion similar to that which Senator King is introducing in the Senate, to the effect that America shall call an international conference to arrange for the limitation of armaments. Both motions are considered to be foredoomed to failure. According to Representative Maverick, a conference for peace at the present time may save war. “Let us have a peace conference before war—not after it,” he said. “If we do, we may stop this naval race and also stop war. The Japanese reply is not a belligerent one. It is quite evident that the Japanese Government are willing to discuss the limitation of armaments.” OPPONENTS OF CONFERENCE. NEW YORK, February 13. The* peace conference resolutions of Senator King and Representative Maverick are both likely to meet with sturdy opposition Several attempts, all of which have been unsuccessful, have been made to induce Senator Borah to introduce a similar resolution. It is believed that he feels thajt it would seriously embarrass the Government, and would not help towards peace. Senator Key Pittman opposes the motion. He said: “The United States for years past has made every possible effort towards disarmament The time has come to be realistic There is nothing to do now but to in* voke the ‘escalator’ clause.” REFERENDUM PROPOSAL REVIVED. NEW YORK, February 13. The Washington correspondent ot the “New York Times” says that Senator Bone plans to revive Senator Ludlow’s proposal of January, which provides that the United States shall hold a national referendum before the Government shall involve the country in war.

45,000 TON BATTLESHIPS

U.S.A, to Exceed Treaty Limits BRITAIN AND FRANCE TO FOLLOW SUIT. (Received February 14, 11.45 p.m.) NEW YORK, February 14. Regarding the use of the “escalator” principle for naval construction, the procedure likely to be adopted will take the form of a concerted exchange of Notes by the United States, Britain, and France within the next few days, these involving the “escalator” clause in the Treaty, and relieving each other Power of the existing tonnage and existing gun limitations. The above statement is made by the Washington correspondent of the “New York Herald-Tribune." “It is believed,” he adds, “that an effort will be made to reach an understanding, about new limits. <‘lt is virtually certain that the new U.S.A, battleships’ tonnage will be forty-five thousand, and that the guns will be of eighteen inches. “It is certain also that the United States will boost her cruiser sizes to ten thousand tons, with eight-inch guns.” U.S.A. PRESS COMMENTS. NEW YORK, February 13. The “New York Times" prints 9