DISARMAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 16 August 1929, Page 5

DISARMAMENT

CURTAILING SEA POWER. V CONFERENCE IN DECEMBER. PROSPECTS ENCOURAGING. 'United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) (Australian Press Association.) NEW YORK, Aug. 14. A conference to-day between President Hoover, Messrs Adams and Stiinson and members of the General Naval Board brought to light certain important facts, namely, that there is an encouraging prospect that a formal disarmament conference will take place, probably in December, in London, states the Washington correspondent of the “New York Times.” It was indicated that there would probably be a harmonisation of the conflicting views concerning 6000 and 10,000 ton cruisers by giving a low valuation to cruisers that would be employed mainly for policing the seas as compared with cruisers effective in offensive warfare. The so-called yardstick, moreover, will be applied to as few categories of vessels as possible, namely, cruisers and aeroplane carriers The fundamental aim on account of popular sentiment in the United States and Britain against the actual scrapping of effective warships will be to establish a basis for bringing about a curtailment of sea power by not replacing ships that have reached a noneffective fighting state. jd t It is understood that Britain under this heading contemplates building only 30.000 tons of new cruisers to replace 70,000 tons which are approaching the age limit. Moreover, 19 American cruisers in -fche same conditions are ±o be sold- and -eliminated from the valuation discussions. Mr Ramsay MacDonald will visit Washington prior to the formal naval conference being called.