A.—s

6

France and Italy destroy none of their ships, as their battle fleets do not exceed the prescribed ratio with that of the other Powers. It was part of the original American scheme that no new capital ships were to be built by any ot the five Powers for a period of ten years — the so-called " naval holiday." The negotiations and discussions of the Conference, however, showed that this proposal required modification. There is substituted for it in the Treaty a definite scheme for the gradual replacement of the capital ships of each Power by the building of new ships at fixed dates. Under this scheme the British Empire is permitted forthwith to build two new capital ships, but is bound on their completion to destroy four of her older ships — namely, the " King George V," the " Ajax," the " Centurion," and the " Thunderer." The British battle fleet will then consist of twenty ships, three of which —namely, the " Hood " and the two new vessels —will be the largest and most powerful ships-of-war in the world. Thereafter no new capital ships may be laid down by Great Britain until the year 1931, when a beginning may be made with the construction of two. Two more may be laid down in 1932, one in 1.933, two in 1934, one in 1935, two in 1936, one in 1937, two in 1938, and two in 1939. As each of these new ships is completed, an equivalent tonnage of the older ships is to be destroyed, so that the aggregate tonnage of the British battle fleet shall at no time exceed the ratio fixed by the Treaty. On this scheme of progressive replacement the battle fleet of the British Empire in the year 1942 will consist of fifteen ships of an aggregate tonnage not exceeding 525,000 tons. Similarly, America is permitted forthwith to complete two of the capital ships now under construction, but must immediately thereafter destroy the " Delaware " and the "North Dakota." America must lay down no other capital ship until the year 1931. By a scheme of progressive replacement similar to that provided for in respect of the British Navy the American battle fleet will in the year 1942 consist of fifteen ships of an aggregate tonnage not exceeding 525,000 tons. Japan is not permitted to lay down any new capital ship until the year 1931. She may then lay down one in every year, destroying an equivalent of her older tonnage, with the result that in 1942 the Japanese battle fleet will consist of nine ships of an aggregate tonnage not exceeding 315,000 tons. France and Italy are not permitted to lay down any new capital ship until the year 1927. Thereafter they may lay down certain capital-ship tonnage in each year, destroying an equivalent of the older tonnage, so that the total tonnage of each of those Powers shall at no time exceed 175,000 tons. The number of ships to be represented by this total tonnage is left to the discretion of those Powers. They are at liberty either to build a small number of large vessels or a larger number of smaller vessels. The final and permanent ratio thus established between the battle fleets of the five Powers on the completion of the scheme of replacement is as follows : — Ships. Tonnage. The British Empire.. .. .. ..15 525,000 The United States .. .. .. ..15 525,000 Japan .. .. .. .. ..9 315,000 France .. .. .. .. .... 175,000 Italy .. .. .. .. .... 175,000 No new capital ship is to have a tonnage exceeding 35,000 tons, or to carry any gun exceeding 16 inches in calibre. That is a very substantial reduction as compared with the size of the newest ships whose construction was planned before the Treaty. In order to prevent evasion of those restrictions on the building of new capital ships the Treaty contains restrictions on the alteration or reconstruction of existing ships. No capital ship may be reconstructed except for the purpose of providing means of defence against attacks from aircraft and submarines. For this purpose any existing ship may be equipped with that under-water bulge or blister which is the latest scheme of protection against torpedoes or mines, provided that the tonnage of the ship is not thereby increased by more than 3,000 tons. Each ship may also be equipped with new armoured - deck protection against aircraft. No