OLD NAVAL VESSELS.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 4 September 1936, Page 7

OLD NAVAL VESSELS.

JAPANESE USE OF ESCALATOR CLAUSE, FOLLOWS BRITAIN’S LEAD. (By Telegraph-Press Assn. -Copyright) (British Official Wireless). RUGBY, Sept. 2. A Note was received at the Foreign Office to-day from the Japanese Embassy in London containing the Japanese Government’s reply to the Note of the British Government sent on July 15, in which Great Britnin announced its intention to invoke the escalator clause under the London Naval Treaty of 1930 and to keep 40,000 tons of over-age destroyers in excess of the 150,000 tons permitted under Article 10 of the Treaty.

In its Note the Japanese Government states its intention in these circumstances to keep 15,598 tons of submarines as well as 11,059 tons of destroyers in excess of the Treaty figures, to make up the extra 28,000 tons to which they become entitled in view of the British invocation of the escalator clause.

The reason given is that they have not sufficient over-age destroyer tonnage alone to make up the total. The Japanese Government docs not adduce any legal arguments to support the correctitude of its proposed action under the terms of the London Treaty, and the position is now under consideration of the British Government.

America Follows Suit JAPAN APPARENTLY NERVOUS OF RUSSIA. Received Thursday, 9.50 p.m. NEW YORK, Sept. 2. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says the United States has informed Britain that she must “very reluctantly” keep in service, after the end of the year, 40,000 tons of over-age destroyers In excess of the total permitted by the London Treaty of .1930, this being America’s reply to Britain’s invocation of the escalator clause. The notification is contained in a Note sent to Britain but since _ it is published the reasons advanced by the United States are not divulged. Japan's action to-day in notifying Britain that she would be obliged to retain surplus submarines to an extent corresponding with the British surplus destroyer tonnage is viewed here as a direct result of the American action.

The indications are that the United States will consider the Japanese step as another and independent invocation of the escalator clause and will probably make discreet inquiries in Tokio regarding the reasons for it, though it is expected the Japanese will probably allege the..presence in Pacific waters of a sizeable fleet of Soviet submarines.