BIG BATTLESHIPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22352, 25 February 1936, Page 9

BIG BATTLESHIPS

AMERICA'S DECISION RETENTION NOW ASSURED CRUISERS MAY BE SMALLER By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright (Received February 24, 8.15 p.m.) LONDON, Feb. 23 The refusal of the United States to reduce battleships below 35,000 tons assures the Four Power Conference's retention of the existing limit, and dissipates the hope of substantial reductions in size and cost. The Daily Telegraph's naval correspondent attributes the decision solely to technical reasons. Nevertheless, the conference is believed to have agreed to cruisers being of a maximum of 8000 tons, instead of 10,000, and 6in. Runs, which may mean a saving of £300,000 on each new British heavy cruiser. The British Admiralty has always maintained that 10,000 tons was excessive for cruisers. "ESCALATOR" CLAUSE WORTHLESS PROVISION SAFEGUARD IN TREATY LONDON, Feb. 16 According to the Morning Post's naval correspondent, Britain will not sign any agreement reached at the Naval Conference unless, and until, Germany has subscribed to it. France will undoubtedly adopt the same attitude. Hitherto it has been thought that the acceptance or otherwise of agreements by nations outside the conference could adequately be covered by the insertion of a safeguarding or "escape" clause in every agreement. That Britain does not consider this sufficient protection reflects the worthlessness of the "escalator clause" in the London Naval Treaty. This clausß has never been invoked, although Britain has had ample ground for doing so in the face of the rapid naval development by the non-treaty Powers. It is now asserted that the clause was always politically and diplomatically unworkable. JAPAN'S DELEGATES ARRIVAL AT SINGAPORE TEA WITH BRITISH ADMIRAL SINGAPORE, Feb. 23 Vice-Admiral Sir Charles Little, com-mander-in-chief, China station, had tea ashore yesterday with Admiral Nagano and the other Japanese delegates to the Naval Conference. Admiral Nagano resumed his journey to Japan last night.