A Naval Conference Interlude The Naval Conference has adjourned till
January 6th, after a sitting of a fortnight, in the course of which the participating States have to a certain extent taken posi- tion, but nothing approaching an understanding has been reached. The Japanese claim to "a common upper limit," i.e., to the same maximum for all fleets, and Consequently the complete abandonment of ratios, has been set aside for the moment by tacit accord, and atten- tion concentrated on the British proposal for the publica- tion of maximum building programmes for a period of six years or, as France and Italy would prefer, less. On this disagreement is less pronounced, and it is possible that the proposal may prove not completely sterile. The next step will, no doubt, be consideration of proposals for a further limitation, in the tonnage and gun-power of . individual vessels, which will give an opportunity for second thoughts on the • question of replacing existing battleships at a cost of anything up to £12,000,000 apiece, a project the gravity of which Admiral Sir Herbert Richmond exposed in an important letter in last Satur- day's Times. Over and above this there is a prospect of getting agreement on laws of submarine warfare. How far they will be observed in time of war is, of course, another matter.
*
Previous page
