A.—s. alternatively, the armament contains no guns exceeding 6 inches (152 millimetres) in calibre the number of guns is not limited. In either case the number of anti-aircraft guns and of guns not exceeding 5 inches (127 millimetres) is not limited. Article XL No vessel-of-war exceeding 10,000 tons (10,160 metric tons) standard displacement, other than a capital ship or aircraft-carrier, shall bo acquired by, or constructed by, for, or within the jurisdiction of, any of the contracting Powers. Vessels not specifically built as fighting-ships nor taken in time of peace under Government control for fighting purposes, which arc employed on fleet duties, or as troop transports, or in some other way for the purpose of assisting in the prosecution of hostilities otherwise than as fighting-ships, shall not be within the limitations of this Article. Article XII. No vessel-of-war of any of the contracting Powers, hereafter laid down, other than a capital ship, shall carry a gun with a calibre in excess of 8 inches (203 millimetres). Article XIII. Except as provided in Article IX, no ship designated.in the present Treaty to be scrapped may be reconverted into a vessel-of-war. Article XIV. No preparations shall be made in merchant ships in time oi peace for the installation of warlike armaments for the purpose of converting such ships into vessels-of-war, other than the necessary stiffening of decks for the mounting of guns not exceeding G inches (152 millimetres) calibre. Article XV. No vessel-of-war constructed within the jurisdiction of any of the contracting Powers for a non-contracting Power shall exceed the limitations as to displacement and armament prescribed by the present Treaty for vessels of a similar type which may be constructed by or for any of the contracting Powers ; provided, however, that the displacement for aircraft-carriers constructed for a non-contracting Power shall in no case exceed 27,000 tons (27,432 metric tons) standard displacement. Article XVI. If the construction of any vossol-of-war for a non-contracting Power is undertaken within the jurisdiction of any of the contracting Powers, such Power shall promptly inform the other contracting Powers of the date of the signing of the contract and the date on which the keel of the ship is laid ; and shall also communicate to them the particulars relating to the ship prescribed in Chapter 11, Part 3, Section I (b), (4) and (5). Article XVII. In the event of a contracting Power being engaged in war, such Power shall not use as a vessel-of-war any vessel-of-war which may be under construction within its jurisdiction for any other Power, or which may have been constructed within its jurisdiction for another Power and not delivered. Article XVIII. Each of the contracting Powers undertakes not to dispose by gift, sale, or any mode of transfer of any vessel-of-war in such a manner that such vessel may become a vessel-of-war in tho navy of any foreign Power. Article XIX. The United States, tho Britisli Empire, and Japan agree that the status quo at tho time of the signing of the present Treaty, with regard to fortifications and naval bases, shall be maintained in their respective territories and possessions specified hereunder : — (1.) The insular possessions which the United States now holds or may hereafter acquire in the Pacific Ocean, except (a) those adjacent to the coast of the United States, Alaska, and the Panama Canal Zone, not including the Aleutian Islands ; and (/;) the Hawaiian Islands : (2.) Hong Kong and the insular possessions which the British Empire now holds or may hereafter acquire in the Pacific Ocean east of the meridian of 110° east longitude, except (a) those adjacent to the coast of Canada, (b) the Commonwealth of Australia and its territories, and (c) New Zealand : (3.) The following insular territories and possessions of Japan in the Pacific Ocean, to wit: the Rurile Islands, the Bonin Islands, Amami-Oshima, the Loochoo Islands, Formosa, and the Pescadores, and any insular territories or possessions in the Pacific Ocean which Japan may hereafter acquire. The maintenance of the status quo under the foregoing provisions implies that no new fortifications or naval bases shall be established in the territories and possessions specified ; that no measures shall be taken to increase the existing naval facilities for the repair and maintenance of naval forces; and that no increase shall be made in the coast defences of the territories and possessions above specified. This restriction, however, does not preclude such repair and replacement of worn-out weapons and equipment as is customary in naval and military establishments in time of peace.