- A Doomed Conference The Naval Conference resumed its sittings
on Wednesday, without Japan. The prospect is increasingly depressing. Japan's attitude has ruled out all possibility of limiting the total tonnages of fleets—unless, indeed, they are limited to the same figure for Japan as for Great Britain and the United States. Now the hope that at least some reduction.would be effected in the sizes of individual vessels has become remote. Great Britain's desire to get the capital ship down to. 25,000 tons can only be realised if there is agreement. on the part-of all the other Powers, including Japan. The Japanese might, in fact, concur, but there is little likelihood that the United States or France or Italy will , for the two latter countries arc already building 35,000-ton ships, and the United States considers at least that tonnage necessary for her in view of the distance at which her fleet may have to operate from its base. Failing a sudden and general shifting of position, of which there is little prospect, the conference will end with nothing worth mentioning. accomplished. Competitive building on an unlimited scale will be legal eleven months hence. The probable consequences, both political and financial, if the race begins, awaken the gravest apprehension. In that lies the only hope of a reversion to sanity in the time still available for a change of front.
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