THE WORLD'S NAVIES

Otago Witness, Issue 3594, 30 January 1923, Page 22

THE WORLD'S NAVIES

LIMITING AUXILIARY CRAFT. WASHINGTON, January 22. President Harding has signed the Naval Appropriations Bill, which carries a Congressional suggestion that another international conference should be called to limit submarines, aircraft, and auxiliary ships. MODERNISING BATTLE FLEET. WASHINGTON, January 22. Mr Denby (Secretary for the Navy), appearing before the House of Representatives Naval Committee, urged the immediate appropriation of 6,500,000 dollars for the purpose of modernising the 13 capital ships retained under the Washington naval agreement. He declared that next year an additional 23.500,000 would be needed to complete this programme, in order to keep pace with Britain and Japan. A JAPANESE STATEMENT. WASHINGTON, January 25. The Japanese Embassy has issued a correction of the Tokio despatch, intimating that Admiral Kato had admitted the existence of an understanding between Britain, Japan, and the United States over the Naval Treaty. The Embassy announced that Admiral Kato said that he believed the Treaty would be ratified, but that in the unlikely event of it failing, on agreement of some sort might eventually be reached between Japan, the United States, and Britain. “Putting aside this question, however, he said, “let me sav that, even if the Treaty fails, we earnestly’ desire to respect the spirit of the Washington Conference by reducing expenditure and lightening our national burden.” Admiral Kato next day, answering a further interpellation in the House of Representatives, flatlv denied that such an understanding already existed.