RATIO SYSTEM

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21935, 19 October 1934, Page 11

RATIO SYSTEM

UNITED STATES' POLICY ALTERATION OPPOSED LONDON". Oct. 9 Admiral William H. Standley is immovably opposed to disturbing the 5—5—3 battleship ratio for Britain, the United States and Japan, writes the Washington correspondent of the Times. As Chief ,r t>f Operations he is President of the Naval General Board, and he is to attend Mr. Norman H. Davis as adviser when the latter is United States Ambassador-at-large in London for the conversations preliminary to the Nasal Conference next year. It is equally clear, the correspondent states, that America will insist upon the continuance of 10,000-ton cruisers, with Sin. guns. The Americans might accept a slight reduction in the maximum tonnage of battleships, with guns at a maximum of 14in., but will not agree to Britain's suggested 25,000-ton maximum. Nor will the representatives of the American Navy accept Japan's desire strictly to limit aircraft-carriers to bombing aeroplanes, but they will insist upon the abolition of submarines, which the Japanese will not sacrifice. Washington is strongly convinced that the Japanese fear aircraft-carriers more than any warships in existence. Mr. Roosevelt is described as the most navy-minded modern President, and he certainly would have the naval policy include concentration in the Pacific, with strategic exercises there.