NAVAL CONFERENCE

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 30 January 1936, Page 7

NAVAL CONFERENCE

QUALITATIVE LIMITATION NEW BRITISH PROPOSALS PROVIDING FOR MAXIMUM LIMITS (British Official Wireless) (Received 30th January, 12.5 p.m.) RUGBY, 29th January. The Naval Conference resumed work to-day when Japanese observers were present at a meeting of the First Committee. The meeting undertook a preliminary survey of the general question of qualitative limitation. Preliminary conversations of last year in preparation for the Naval Conference revealed little if any support for the British suggestions, and to-day in his capacity as chairman of the First Committee, the First Lord of the Admiralty, Lord Eyres-Monsell, put forward as a basis for discussion proposals embodying the lowest figures which in the light of the exchanges seemed likely to obtain common acceptance of the four Powers represented in the Conference. These proposals, which were accepted hv the committee as a basis for future discussions, are understood to provide for the following maximum limits — Capital ships: 35,000 tons and 14unch guns, with a possibility of fixing the tonnage at two or three thousand lower. Aircraft carriers: 22,000 tons and 6.1-inch guns. No further construction of large cruisers. Amalgamation of smaller cruisers and destroyers into a single category with a limit of 7500 to 8000 tons with 6.1-inch guns'. This proposal aimed at meeting the difficulty due to construction already undertaken in the destroyer class by powers which were not signatories to the London Naval Treaty. Submarines: 200 tons with 5.1-inch guns.

The First Committee lias decided . to refer the question of qualitative limitation to a technical sub-committee and directed technical experts to begin with tlie examination of questions such as definitions which have a bearing on qualitative limitation.

BRITISH PLAN FOR SMALLER WARSHIPS

SAID TO BE ALREADY DOOMED LONDON, 29tli January. The Naval Conference will reassemble to-day for its first discussion of tile British plan for reducing tlie size of vessels and guns, including the limitation of submarines to coastal dimensions, but the proposals already seem doomed, says the “Daily Telegraph’s” naval correspondent, owing to American, French and Italian opposition. The American attitude on qualitative limitation has visibly hardened since Japan withdrew from tlie conference. The American view is that Japan's action appears to foreshadow a bid for naval domination over the whole of the Far East, so that it would be madness to make concessions curtailing the range and striking power of the United States fleet. The conference, therefore, is most unlikely to effect any reduction in tlie size of future warships. •