JAPANESE NAVY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19129, 25 September 1936, Page 2

JAPANESE NAVY

SUBMARINE STRENGTH

FABUSfS .WTfH BRITAIN

LONDON, Sept. 14

The British Foreign Office lias begun conversation with the Japanese Ambassador in connection with Japans claim to retain extra tonnage in submarines, as well as in destroyers, in reply to Britain’s* use of the “escalator clause of the 1930 naval treaty. It is stated that America has dispatched a protest Note to Tokio regarding Japan’s action. Tho Japanese proposals, would ot great, disadvantage: to the British Empire, whoso 36 under-age submarines total 44,769 tons, in addition to 13 worn-out, vessels.

Consequently tho Empire possesses no submarine surplus to tho limit laid down in the treaty, and lias nothing to set bit against .Japan’s retention ol 16,000 tons. . Japan has 67 completed submarines and normally would have to sera]) 20 in accordance with treaty requirements, but tho retention of 16,000 tons above tho treaty’s 52,700 tons saves 121 submarines from the scrap heap, and 56 of Japan’s total of 59 would he: under the age limit of 13 years. America, at the end of the year, would have only 24 under-age submarines, totalling 32,260 tons. ITer 56 other submarines served during the war. America asks Japan to invoke the “escalator” clause in accordance with the strict letter of the treaty, namely, that if any nation invokes it regarding any one category, other signatory Powers are entitled to proportionate increases in the same category. If Japan acquiesces, America and the British Empire would be entitled to retain an equivalent submarine tonnage above the treaty limit.