POWERS' NAVIES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22629, 18 January 1937, Page 9

POWERS' NAVIES

CAPITAL SHIPS' GUNS ITALY ACCEPTS LIMIT JAPAN STILL TO DECIDE By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright (Received January 17, 5.5 p.m.) LONDON, Jan. 10 It was learned from official quarters in London yesterday that Italy is prepared to agree not to mount guns exceeding LI inches for capital ships, provided that the other Powers accept the limitation. This is regarded as one of the first fruits of the recent Anglo-Italian Mediterranean pact.

By a coincidence the news was announced while a large party of members of the Foreign Press Association were paying an official visit to Portsmouth and viewing the Nelson's 16-inch guns. Only Japan now lias not accepted the plan and she lias until April 1 to decide. ]f Japan declines to accept the limit the guns will remain at 16-inch, probably forcing the United States protectively to adopt a standard which will lead to an ultimate all-round increase in outlays on armaments. COST OF DEFENCE BRITAIN'S HUGE BURDEN CHANCELLOR PLANS LOAN (Received January 17, p.m.) LONDON. Jan. 17 Some of tlie newspapers say they believe that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Neville Chamberlain, is planning to borrow .1:200,000,000 to pay lor rearmament. The expenditure on defence probably will be increased by £50,000.000 as the Navy requires £90,000,000 and the Army and Air Force require £60,000,000. NEWS IN LONDON SATISFACTION EXPRESSED RACE RISKS DIMINISHED British Wireless RUGBY, Jan. 15 The information about Italy's naval policy has caused particular satisfaction in London, because it means that, with the exception of Japan, all the principal naval Powers, as well as a number of Powers with smaller navies, have now specifically accepted the 14inch gun, thus diminishing the risks of the upward race in sizes of ships and guns.

Article IV. of the Naval Treaty signed in London last year provides that no capital ship shall carry a gun with a calibre exceeding 14 inches unless any of the parties to the Washington Naval Treaty fails to enter into agreement and conform to this provision by April I', 1937. In the latter event the maximum calibre of guns for

capital ships is fixed at 16 inches