DISARMAMENT CONGRESS

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 37, 20 June 1927, Page 5

DISARMAMENT CONGRESS

AMERICAN PROPOSALS. TO BE OUTLINED AT OPENING. P!res» Association—Copyright, / Australian and N.Z. Cable Assn. WASHINGTON, June 18. The American proposals for the Geneva Disarmament Conference are completed- It (is understood That they include, first, the establishment of a 55 —3 ratio auxiliary craft for Britain, United States and Japan, similar to the existing capital ship ratio, and opposition to .Japan’s desire for a larger ratio for herself. Secondly, The retention of 10,000 as the maximum tonnage of cruisers and opposition to a possible BritishJapanese mqvo for a 6000 or 8000 maximum ' V Thirdly, the retention of five-inch guns for cruisers in opposition to the possible British policy of a six-inch limit, which i» suitable for merchant ships. Fourthly, the acceptance, if necessary, of American equality in a cruiser ratio based on Britaih’s present superior tonnage, thus necessitating an American building pro l gramipe instead of a. British reduction. , Fifthly, opposition to any effect to reduce the tonnage of capital ships or to , re-defihe capital ships as already,'fixed by the Washington Treaty, Sixthly, opposition to the possible Japanese move to discuss the Panama Canal or so-cal led * freedom of internatiopal waterways. It is understood that the American .policy, as outlined, is equally accepti able to both , the diplomatic and' naval advisors. The administration, therefore, is not expected to incur naval displeasure this time, as it did ; with .'features of the Washington Treaty.. • ~ •. ... ■ . . Mr. Gibson, head of the American will outline the proposals in general form at the opening of the conference?