TWO NAVAL PACTS

Hokitika Guardian, 17 May 1937, Page 5

TWO NAVAL PACTS

LIMITATION for new ships. ; U LONDON, May 10. Two naval treaties, between Britain and Germany, and between Britain and Russia, will shortly be signed, the Daily Telegraph states. Substantially, they will jbe identiioal and will be mainly on the lines of the London Treaty of 1936. I his treaty was signed by Britain, the United States and France. The new treaties, while reproducing its principal features, will embody reservations in eaeli case. That between Britain and Germany reaffirms the 100 to 35 ratio for tonnage, but exempts Germany from qualitative restrictions as to cruisers. It will authorise her to build five 10,000ton vessels, armed with eight-inch guns. One of these is afloat and two are building. “They will be better fighting ships that the British 10,000-ton cruisers, but the latter are being modernised in rotation. The Anglo-Russian agreement permits Russia to arm specified new cruisers with 7.1-inch guns, six such ships being contemplated, while the Vladivostok fleet is exempted from all but qualitative restrictions, provided they are built in the Far East and retained there. Russia and Germany agree to limit their future capital ships to 35,000 tons and the calibre of their guns to 16 inches; cruisers, to 8000 tons, with 6.1-inch guns; aircraft-carriers to 23,000 tons, and submarines to 2000 tons. They also agree reciprocally to communicate to Britain in advance information regarding building plans.