Security At Sea

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1013, 2 July 1930, Page 9

Security At Sea

NAVAL TREATY QUESTIONED Britain Alone Suffers EARL BEATTY FEARS FOR HER SAFETY I7EAKS that Britain’s security at sea lias been jeopardised by Hie London Naval Treaty have been expressed by Earl Beatty, who says Britain is the only major Power who is to disarm. Lord Parmour, on behalf of the Government, gave bis assurance that every step the Government took was backed by the advice of (lie Admiralty Board experts. British Official Wireless

j United P.A.—By telegraph —Copyright J Reed. Noon. RUGBY, Tuesday. In the House of Lords Earl Beatty raised the matter of the proposed naval treaty resulting* from the recent naval conference. He said this country, which was the only nation to whom sea power meant its existence, was the only Power to make any disarmament or any reduction, and to this extent the naval j treaty had rendered us impotent and incapable of maintaining effective con- ! trol over the connecting links of our ! far-flung Empire. j As a result of the treaty, the United ! States was increasing her cruiser ton-

and Italy were not in any way restricted. France had the intention of having 12 10,000-ton cruisers, and Italy was not long to be behind her. The reduction of our cruiser pro gramme from 70 to 50 was one of the most inexplicable things of our time. LIFE OF SHIPS Earl Beatty criticised the arrangement whereby our new ships were to have a life of 20 years, whereas foreign ships would have a life of 10 years. Referring to the Singapore base, Earl Beatty said that it was not yet finished, but without it we should be hopeless to protect our Empire and our trade in the Far East and in | India. I By 1933 France would possess 24 ! submarines and a flotilla of 2,200 to I 2,500 tons with 5.5 inch guns, whereas i we should have only 16 submarines of : 1,050 tops with 4.7-inch guns, j In destroyers we should have prac- ! tical equality. What possible chance should we have of maintaining our I food supplies and vital commodities | against such strength possessed by a Mediterranean Power? he asked, j Lord Parmoor, replying for tlie Govi eminent, said they had just as great : care and anxiety for the security of I the country as any other Government. CHANGED CONDITIONS Changed world conditions were sufficient to explain why 50 cruisers would give us in 1930 security for which 70 cruisers were desirable in 1927. He believed the great mass of the people of this country desired this j treaty, and a policy of fullest underj standing with the United States, and ! they were prepared to feel secure so long as they knew no step was taken j except under the advice of expert ad- ' visers who for the time being were ! on the Board of Admiralty.

nage by 233,000 tons. Japan was increasing her cruiser tonnage by 10 per cent., or 40,000 tons, and France