NAVAL SENSATION.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20465, 17 January 1930, Page 11

NAVAL SENSATION.

BRITISH PROPOSALS.

ABOLITION OF BATTLESHIPS

BAN ON SUBMARINES.

MACDONALD IN FAVOUR.

STATEMENT OF POLICY.

By Teleernph—Press Association—Copyright. (Received January 16. .7.45 p.m.^ LONDON. Jan. 16. The Prime Minister. Mr. Mac Donald, yesterday received the Dominion delegates to the Five Powers Naval Conference at No. 10, Downing Street. It was officially announced in the evening that the meeting had been "satisfactorily concluded." Mr. Mac Donald also received more than 200 British, Dominion and Foreign newspaper representatives, who are to report the proceedings of the conference. After that meeting an official spokesman expounded the general views oJ the Government.

The most important points in his statement were that a clear indication was given that the Government favours the complete Abolition of battleships and submarines and that the question of cruisors apparently is still open. At the meeting with journalists Mr. Mac Donald said: " Battleships cost £7,000,000. Viewed in the Hght of efficiency, with the developments of other arms, this makes these, in the Government's -view, very doubtful propositions. " The Government would really like to see the Powers agree to a process wherebybattleships would disappear. The suggestion now made concerning a reduction in gun-power might form a transitional phase toward the final scrapping of these huge and expensive craft. " There is also a suggestion that replacement might be deferred until 1935-6 instead of next year, as provided for tinder the Washington Treaty." Questiion of Consulting Dominions.

The Daily Telegraph, in an editorial article, complains that when the question was asked whether the Dominions had agreed to a policy which involved alarming reductions there was no answer. The paper infers that the Dominions either have not. been consulted or have not been given time to come to a decision. It is deduced that the official spokesman was not in a position to know what had happened at-the meeting between Mr. Mac Donald and the Dominion representatives. This does not affect the Daily Telegraph's point about consultation before a decision, instead of when a "decision is fixed, or practically fixed.

Mr. Hector Bywater. naval correspondent of the Telegraph, asserts that the Cabinet is inclined to regard battleships as an anachronism owing to their exposure to overhead and under-water attack. However, that is not the view of the Admiralty and the Sea Lords.

Labour Organ on Cost of- Ships,

The Daily Herald says the Washington Treaty provided that no new battleships should be built until after 1936, but in the meantime it permitted the replacement of ships that were obsolete; inasmuch as they were 20 years old. Under that arrangement, says the paper, Britain in 1931 would lay down two battleships for completion in 1934, when the Iron Duke class will become obsolete. Two more would be laid down in 1932, one in 1933, two in 1934, one in 1935 and two in 1936. Therefore, within the Washington period, Britain would have built, or be building, 10 battleships at a cost of £7.000,000 "each.

In the same period the United States would have laid down 10 and France, Italy and Japan would have laid down others.

The paper quotes approvingly Lord Fisher's advice with reference to battle-, chips, namely: "Scrap the lot."

SURPRISE IN AMERICA.

SUGGESTION UNDER REVIEW.

ADOPTION THOUGHT UNLIKELY.

(Received January 16, 8.5 p.m.)

NEW YORK, Jan. 15.

The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says the declaration of the British Prime Minister, Mr. Mac Donald, in favour of the abolition of battleships has caused some surprise there. Unofficially the statement is regarded as at least a partially favourable reaction to the recent campaign conducted by certain British newspapers and elements of the Labour Party for the elimination of all big naval craft.

In view of the attitude of the United States and Japan in regard to battleships it is believed that the suggestion will not be adopted at the Five Powers Naval Conference any more than will the proposal of Britain and the United States to abolish submarines.

It is recognised that should Mr. MacDonald point out at, the conference that Britain, after urging in vain the abolition of battleships was prepared as a next suggestion to limit them heavily, this might prove to be a strong trading point in inducing France and Japan to consent to a restriction in submarines.

Altogether Mr. Mac Donald's. desire for a reduction in all categories of ships is strongly welcomed in Washington and he will find the United States collaborating with him.