CRUISER PROBLEM

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIX, Issue 241, 10 September 1929, Page 7

CRUISER PROBLEM

SAME OBSTACLE RECURS. NAVAL NEGOTIATIONS. TEMPORARY DEADLOCK. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (United Service.) Received September 10, 11.35 a.m. WASHINGTON, Sept. 9. The British and American naval negotiations have reached at least _ a temporary deadlock on the cruiser question. This same obstacle broke up the 1927 Geneva Conference and frustrated attempts to limit the auxiliary tonnage when the Washington Capital Ship Limitation Treaty was written in 1922. ’ Counter proposals to Britain’s latest suggestion for bridging the gulf that divides the two nations in the cruiser tonnage issues are under preparation. OPPONENT OF LIMITATION. “AMERICAN PATRIOT.” (Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON, Sept. 8. The naval expert who has been engaged in opposing naval limitation has been interviewed by representatives of the Press and has divulged aspects of his work. His name is William B. Shearer. Mr Shearer has shown a great interest in naval matters for many years, and attempted to secure a court order to prevent the sinking of certain vessels under the Washington Treaty. Mr Shearer declared that he was not a “propagandist” but a patriot. He was a private observer at the Geneva Conference, and data which he used there against naval limitation was supplied by navy officers, whose names he would reveal at the impending Senartorial investigation. However, he mentioned four admirals who besought him in 1924 to spread information against the reduction of naval armaments. Mr Shearer stated that shipbuilding companies were enthusiastic over his work.