DISARMAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 2 July 1927, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

SIZE OF SMALL CRAFT PROVISIONAL AGREEMENT. REPORTED FROM GENEVA. by cable—press association— copyright GENEVA, July 1. It is understood that a provisional agreement has been reached tor the future construction of destroyers and similar craft, whereby the first category is limited to 1500 tons, with a ©peed of 20 knots and an age limit of 15 years.

BRITISH ANNOUNCEMENT GIVES

SATISFACTION

NEW YORK, June 30. The Washington correspondent of the “New York Times’’ states that Mr Kellogg has expressed his satisfaction with the British announcement relative to naval parity with America. There is apparent a. feeling in official circles that the announcement augured well for the future of the conference, and it is felt here that British officials consider cordia:! relations between the two English-speaking countries of far greater importance than a«y issues wrapped up in naval tonnages. It also recognised that Britain is keenly desirous that the conference should prove successful.

NAVAL LIMITATIONS

BRITISH MAXIMA PROPOSALS

GENEVA, June 30. An authoritative source reveals for the first time the whole range of naval limitations proposed by Britain. The figures are all maxima: Battleships battle cruisers 30,000 tons, guns 13.5 inches; armoured coast defence ships 10,000 tons, 12in. guns, speed not to exceed 18 knots; cruisers 7500 tons, 6in. guns; aircraft carriers 25,000 tons, 6in. guns; destroyers and flotilla leaders 1750 tons, others 1400 tons, oin. guns; torpedoers and motor coastal boats 400 tons, 3in. guns; submarines (two classes), large 1600 tons, small 600 tons, oin. guns; sloops and mine-sweepers, 1500 tons, oin. guns; river gunboats, 750 tons, sin. guns. Britain suggests that the following classes of small auxiliaries shall not be subject to limitation as far as size is concerned: Fuel and repair ships, tenders, supply ships, transports for personnel and munitions stores, but in all cases the speed shall not exceed 20 knots and the guns not to exceed 6in. None of these should be allowed to employ the torpedo as a weapon.

BRITAIN DOES NOT CLAIM SUPREMACY. STATEMENT ill' HON. W. C. BKIDUB-UA-N. LONDON, June 30. The lit. lion, n. C. Jfnclgeman, First, Lord or the Admiralty, m a statement- to tne newspapers, said: ••J. am surprised at the insistence or American newspapeis, ana even other American mums, that Britain is making a claim tor -supremacy ana refusing the American claim lor parity, whicn as far as capital ships is concerned was established at Washington. As far as Geneva is concerned, I am unable to trace any observation of a British delegate or British proposal justifying such an idea. The Nelson and Rodney are apparently causing misapprehension, but they were built in accordance with the Washington Treaty, while four others were scrapped. Britain’s replacement proposals ensure that the principle of parity should easily be agreeable. We recognise that each nation has its special requirements. We have never denied the United States’s claim to build an equal number of ships as Britain if necessary.” —A.P.A. and “Sun.”