LONDON NAVAL TREATY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20564, 15 May 1930, Page 9

LONDON NAVAL TREATY.

MR. STIM SON'S REVIEW. HUGE SAVING INVOLVED. THE SAFEGUARDING CLAUSE. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. WASHINGTON, May J3. The Secretary of Stale, Mr. H. L. Stimson, who was chief American delegate to tho Five Powers Naval Conference, continued his evidenco to-day before the Foreign Relations Committee of the Senate, which is holding open hearings on the London Naval Treaty. In reply to a question, Mr. Stimson said the availability of merchant ships entered into the question of combat strength, but it would have been impossible to include that in the treaty. Some naval officers did not consider that the British battleships Rodney and Nelson were markedly superior to United States battleships. He denied that battleships had bccomo obsolete or that 8-inch gun cruisers could take their place. Mr. Stimson said the treaty would save £80,000,000 of battleship replacement costs. In defending tho safeguarding clauso in tho treaty in reply to questions by Mr. W. E. Borah, chairman of the committee, Mr. Stimson said: — " Wo thought this the best means because it places building on the conscience of the Power concerned, which must get up and say her security is menaced. Wo thought, public opinion would prevent any nation from lightly having recourse to tho clause." Witness added that ho believed the British Labour Government would consider it a matter for regret and mortification if it were necessary to build under tho clause.

The special safeguarding clause incorporated in Part 111. of the London Naval Treaty reads as follows: — "If during the term of the present treaty the/ requirements of national security of any party in respect of vessels of war limited by Part 111. are, in the opinion of that party, materially affected by new construction of any Power other than those which have joined in Part 111., that party will notify the other parties to Part 111. as to the increase required to be made in its own tonnages. It will specify particularly tho proposed increases and reasons for them and shall be entitled to make that increase. " Thereupon tho other parties to Part 111. shall bo entitled to make a proportionate increase in a category or in categories specified and those other parties shall promptly advise each other, through diplomatic channels, as to the situation thus presented." The President of the United States, Mr. Hoover, and the Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, will refrain from submitting ITTeir billion dollar naval arms economy treaty to the Senate for ratification during tiio present session of Congress, according to a New York journal. This means that the tri'partito naval pact which the United States, Britain and Japan signed in London, will not enter tho American political arena in the coming campaign, and will not be the subject of discussion in the Senate until, very likely, enrlv in January, 1931. The present session of Congress will end normally about mid-June. The short session of the 71st Congress will begin early in December after tho Congressional elections. Between the present timo and early January, when Senate discussion will probably begin on tho tripartite pact, the Navy plans envisaged in tho agreement will go ahead, not only ih tho United States, but in Britain and Japan. Pending naval appropriation bills aro not affected by the treaty in tho interim.