NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18275, 16 December 1922, Page 9

NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

SUGGESTED CONFERENCE. OPPOSITION BY OFFICIALS. FEAR REGARDING RATIOS. Ey Telegraph—Press Association—Copyriarht. (Received 7.15 p.m.) * A. and N.Z. NEW YORK, Dec. 14. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times states that the Seriate is distinctly unfavourable to the suggestion made by-the House that the President be requested to call a new conference to discuss the limitation of naval armaments in the hope that an agreement may be reached among the world Powers to limit auxiliary naval vessels under 10,000 tons, the Powers that signed the Washington Naval Limitation Treaty' to be invited.

Senators of both parties seemed to agree that such a conference would be doomed to failure from the beginning.

Mr. H. C. Lodge said the Washington Conference had accomplished about all that could be hoped for some time yet in the way of naval limitation.

Mr. C. A. Swanson, Democratic member of the Senate and the Naval Affairs Committee, expressed the same view, though ho said he would like to see a reduction in minor naval armament. Other Senators declared they would oppose the suggestion when it comes before tho Senate for consideration.

The United Press correspondent at Washington learns that the Navy Department will strongly oppose the suggested conference for the limitation of aircraft, submarines and auxiliary •warcraft. Navy officials assert that if such a wore called other Powers would probably adopt the policy pursued by the United States at the last Washington Conference, namely, that the various ratios be baaed on present naval strength. In aircraft, cruisers, and certain types of submarines the United States are far behind Britain and Japan.