NAVAL CONFERENCE

Waikato Times, Volume 119, Issue 19816, 21 February 1936, Page 9

NAVAL CONFERENCE

SIZE OF CAPITAL SHIPS. BRITAIN LOBEB BATTLE. FAILS TO SECURE AGREEMENT. Urrited Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. LONDON, Feb. 19. The Sun-Herald news service says Britain lost a big battle with the United States by failing to secure an agreement to reduce the size of capital ships from the Washington maximum of 35,000 to 25,000 tons. Consequently Sir Eric Drummond, Ambassador at Rome, conferred with Signor Mussolini, and Sir George Clerk, Ambassador at Paris, saw M. Flandin, French Foreign Minister. Both intimated that Britain was compelled reluctanctly to agree to 35,000 tons. The French and Italians wanted a 27,500 tons maximum, but Signor Mussolini agreed that the acceptance of 35,000 tons was inevitable. It is expected that the French also will concur. All the Powers are expected to agree to aircraft-carriers of a maximum of 22,500 tons with 6.lin. guns, and submarines 2000 tons, but even if the French agree concerning battleships the conference will not achieve anything of real value. ATTITUDE OF UNITED STATES. CANNOT BE CHANGED. FRANCE’S FRUITLESS APPEAL. United Press Assn.—Elec. Tel. Copyright. NEW YORK, Feb. 19. The Washington correspondent of the New York Times says the French Government made a direct but fruitless appeal to the United States to agree at the London Naval Conference to battleships smaller than the present maximum of 35,000 tons. The French Ambassador called at the State Department and conferred with the Undersecretary, Mr Phillips. The latter indicated that America’s position, as repeatedly set forth at the conference, could not be changed. 1 The Navy Department has indicated that the United States is willing to limit the calibre of guns to 14in. instead of 16in. The Secretary of State, Mr Cordell Hull, deprecated a report that the French appeal was considered as having gdne over the heads of the American delegation to the conference. He said the delegation had been informed of the step.