NAVY STRENGTH

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20464, 2 April 1938, Page 7

NAVY STRENGTH

THE ESCALATOR CLAUSE NOT INVOKED BY FRANCE JAPAN TO BUILD BIGGER SHIPS Lotted Press Assn.—Elec. TeL Copyright (Received April 2, 11.30 a.m.) PARIS, April 1 France will not invoke the escalator clause unless another European Power oversteps the 35,U00-ton limit for battleships. TOKIO. April i According to the Domei Agency, Japanese naval circles regret the decision of the Unite*! States to invoke the escalator clause. They believe that Japan is now going ahead with "her long-cherished desire for capital ships with the heavier armaments necessary for overseas operations.” Japan will be compelled to change her naval plan and build bigger ships to meet the situation if escalation is followed by the actual building of ships of over 35,000 tons. The reason of Japan's refusal to disclose her intentions is that secrecy regarding naval plans is indispensable to a country with inferior naval strength. NOTIFICATION BY BRITAIN DEPARTURE FROM LIMITATION EFFECT OF JAPAN’S ACTION (Omclal wireless) (Received April 2, 1 p.m,) RUGBY, April 1 The texts of the notes exchanged between Britain, America and France as a result of the recent discussions between their naval experts are published. In view of the provisions of the Anglo-German and Anglo-Soviet naval agreement Britain addressed similar communications to Germany and Russia. The British note states that Britain has found it necessary to exercise the right reserved in the escalator clause of the Naval Treaty signed in London in 1936 of effecting a departure from the limitations and restrictions of the treaty. The precise extent of the departure will depend on the result of the consultations provided for in the treaty. The reasons for the proposed departure consist in reports received by Britain to the effect that Japan is constructing or has authorised the construction of capital ships of a tonnage not in conformity with the treaty, in view of the refusal of Japan, on being formally approached, to give assurances that these reports were ill-founded, Britain has no alternative but to regard them as being' substantially correct. The United States note is in similar terms, except that the proposed departure extends also to the calibre of the guns which may be mounted on the capital ships concerned. CONFERENCE OF EXPERTS BRITAIN, FRANCE AND AMERICA COMMON LEVEL OF TONNAGE (Omciai Wireless) (Received April 2, l p.m.) RUGBY, April 1 A conference will open shortly in London of English, American and French experts to decide on a common level of tonnage and guns of new battleships, in readiness to lay them down in three months. It is gathered that the Americans are more anxious to build bigger ships than Britain, which docs not desire to exceed 42,500 tons.