NO NEARER SOLUTION

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16389, 11 July 1927, Page 7

NO NEARER SOLUTION

BUT NOT DISCOURAGED THE NAVAL CONFERENCE CRUISERS STILL, THE PROBLEM. (Eloc. Tel. Copyright—United Press Assn.t (Australian and N.Z. Cable Association.) CRN EVA..JuIy 9. When the executive of the Disarmament Conference met to-day for the first time in a, week, a gloomy feeling prevailed regarding the cruiser question. After the meeting, however, there was a happier note. II was apparent that Japan had attempted to provide a compromise by suggesting that cruisers and destroyers he classed together when estimating the maximum tonnage. It is verv doubtful whether this will be helpful," but, after lunch. Mr. W. C. Bridgetnan announced that he was more hopeful than a few days ago. He emphasised the absurdity of Britain being forced to build cruisers of a type she does not want iust to suit America.

"We never have been in favor of an offensive 10,000 tons Bin. gun cruiser class," he said. "It was adopted at Ihe, Washington Conference against our will. Real disarmament can only be achieved •by fixing the iowest sizes and longest, ages for ships compatible with security. Britain's proposals would save £1,000,000 on each large cruiser and £500,000 tin each small vessel. There, never has been.any question of. cruiseparity between Britain and the United States. Each country can state its own needs." SLOW TO FACE REAL ISSUE.

A-pressman asked: If the United States accepted the 7500 maximum for a cruiser, would you scrap your 10,000 tonners? Mr, Bridgeman: "I will wait till the proposition is seriously made. Of course, it sounds an attractive proposition for those, who have 10,000 tonners to scrap." After Mr. Bridgeman's statement, a general impression prevailed that, while, an agreement on cruisers was impossible, the conference will try to launch. a treaty regarding destroyers and submarines.

Another leading British delegate summing up the situation, said the conference was continuing because the Americans were slow to face the real issue. In other words President Coolidge was unwilling to permit a breakdown of his own conference and face the music of American responsibility therefor.

"Britain will not give way to pressure to model her navy to suit American ideas," virtually declared Mr. Bridgeman, who recalls America's insistence at ihe Washington Conference which forced Britain to build 10,000 ton cruisers, which she did not want. Nevertheless. Mr. Bridgeman is most confident that some result will be achieved here. The executive adopted the technicians' report setting out the. points of agreement, but showed concern as to the vital questions of tonnage, size and guns of cruisers and small submarines, the whole question of ratios and the reopening of the capital ships problem. The executive decided to convoke a plenary session on Monday, when the fate of the conference will foe decided. ! FOOLISH PROPHECIES.

If heed were given to smoke room gossip, tho conference is doomed to failure, hut Geneva, is so notorious for taradiddle that it is foolish yet to phophesy nn absolute breakdown. The executive committee, in the forenoon, briskly re-discussed the cruiser difficulty, setting out the three viewpoints on capital ships. It then adjournto a date not yet fixed. The week-end was devoted to private conversations on cruisers and in preparations lor Monday's plenary session. Nothing has yet happened to bring within sight, an acceptable cruiser compromise. The delegations' opinions are still far apart and apparently irreconcilable, but it is learned definitely from the delegates present at this morning's' meeting that nobody is preparing to face an actual abandonment, of the conference.

Mr. Hugh Gibson (America) after the meeting, said:- "I refuse to be discouraged. We, are, at present, no nearer a solution, hut all sincerely want naval limitation find believe we will eventually find a way out. We are determined to keep on trying until we do." British circles to-day point out that the new Japanese proposals tire not acceptable, chiefly because they are based on Japan's shortage of the limit warships, which throws an unnecessary burden on taxpayers. An application of the British age limits to the Japanese figures gives a total tonnage not far short of Britain's own proposals,

JAPANESE SUGGESTIONS SETTLE AUXILIARIES FIRST (Australian and N.Z Cable Association.) LONDON, July 10. An official statement issued at beneva says the executive res.imed the discussion on cruisers. The Japanese suggested that the British battleship proposals be discussed after the limitation of auxiliaries had been settled. America stated she would not object to an _ informal exchange of views on the British proposals covering battleships and aircraft carriers after an agreement regarding auxiliaries, but without prejudicing the decision of the participants in the 1931 conference, also recommending that, if the conference were successful, then the Washington signatories should hold a conference early in 1931 instead of in August, 1931, to determine the effects of the Geneva decisions on their replacement programmes beginning in November. Britain reserves the right to raise the capital ship question at Geneva, irrespective of the decision of the auxiliaries.

The Observer's diplomatic correspondent hints that the Geneva jfripasse may •be ended by an agreement • to .divide cruisers into two categories of the offensive and defensive order, to meet Britain's special needs for the protection of her trade routes. .

RENEWED HOPE IN U.S. DIFFICULTIES MAY BE OVERCOME (Australian Mid N.Z. Cable Association.) NEW YORK, July 9. While the latest reports from Geneva indicate that'there is no possibility of a reconciliation of British and American views on cruisers, when the. conference resumes on Monday, Americon opinion both official and unofficial, is swinging towards a new hope that t'he gathering will accomplish its purpose. Generally speaking, the attitude in this country is intransigent. Mi". Bridgomnn's statement, yesterday brought forth deep opposition. It is'termed "belligerent and irreconcilable, with the pronouncement of the British delegates at the Washington Conference, which agreed with a maximum tonnage of 450,000 for all auxiliary surface craft, both destroyers and cruisers." The State Department to-day reiterated its belief that it would be useless to enter into any limitations treaty with a cruiser tonnage in excess of 400,000. The State Department even went further, pointing out that it has not yet

abandoned the expectation that America's original proposals for a cruiser tonnage of 250,000 to* 300,000 would bo accepted, although 400,000 has been informal.y suggested by American technicians as a ibasis for 1 discussion at Geneva.

A report states that the new British proposal to limit the age of cruisers to 24 years would faring British cruiser tonnage to approximately 433,746, and this may permit new giounds for discussion on Monday. This has strengthened the belief among those with pro-British sentiment that the difficulties may be overcome. They point, with approval, to the views of Lord Lee, printed in the London Times, that the question of Anglo-American relations is far too serious to bo left to naval experts. The Chicago Tribune, says: "Any concrete benefits to be expected from the conference is respect to expenditure and stable relations, as seen at this stage, are doubtful, but there is a very real danger that the conference will have the deplorable consequence of increasing international irritation and distrust." The article then bitterly attacks the British point of view. The Now York Times is one of the few newspapers which strongly support the British contentions. It stresses that the American delegates have swung from economy to a parity in naval strength and adds that the purpose of the conference was to secure economy. It a'so points out that the British proposals mean a saving of £150,000,000 to the Powers concerned and expresses a feav that a rush for parity will prove expensive.