NAVAL TREATY BILL

Manawatu Standard, Volume LVII, Issue 203, 28 July 1937, Page 9

NAVAL TREATY BILL

JAPANESE DECISION. ADMIRALTY WATCHING. QUESTION FOR EXPERTS. (United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph.—Copyright.) (British Official Wireless.) Received July 28, 11.45 a.m. RUGBY, July 27. During the House of Lords second reading debate on the London Naval Treaty Bill, Earl Stanhope, for the Government referred to the decision of Japan not to be limited to 14-in. guns. He said that the British Admiralty would watch the situation very carefully. If it were found that Japan or any other nation was building ships above 35,000 tons or with bigger guns than those proposed in the treaty, notice could be given that, in view of such action, the escalator Clause could he invoked.

Whether that would mean a bigger ship, a faster ship or*a heavier gunned ship than the Japanese was a question that the experts would have to go into when they had the information.

“There is not the smallest intention that we should send out men to sea in ships inferior to those they may meet of any other Power,” Earl Stanhope said. He added that he hoped Japan would, realise it was to her advantage no less than to that of other countries to agree to tbe limitation.