Show BRITAIN AIN CliNGS TO JO DISCUSSION Of BATTLESHIPS Envoys However Abandon Abandon Abandon Aban Aban- don Hope of Revising Washington Pact CRUISERS FOREMOST Lighter Ships Ships' Question Is Dominant at Geneva Genev l' l GENEVA June 29 AP AP Great Great Britain according to Information in authoritative circles has tacItly recognized the Impossibility of re revising revising revising re- re the Washington naval na treaty at the present tripartite conference here without the consent of the United States as one of or the Washington Washington Vash Wash Wash- ington signatories This reported British acceptance of the the American Americ n viewpoint does not mean mean however that the question of the size of battleships will not be discussed here as the British delegation seems keenly desirous of an opportunity to present its Its Its' before a plenary session of th the conf con con- f ference frence possible that me d delegation will not pot deny th tb their lr opportunity on n the understanding un- un however tl that t mere presentation of the British sta stand ld point will not Involve the formal reopening of the Washington decIsions decisions deci to which the American delegation dele deleo gation remains fixedly opposed Hugh S. S Gibson head of ot the American delegation may issue a statement setting forth the objections of the United States to of ot the capital ship question prior to the second Washington conference In 1931 J DELICATE QUESTION J The problem of ot fixing a maximum tonnage for tor cruisers and the method of limitation now looms up as a a delicate question since ince the British wish to talk in terms 61 dt numbers numbers' of cruisers er rather than in total tonnage tonnage tonnage ton ton- nage and presumably desire desir a larger larg larg- er number than they now posses The Japanese today admitted th the receipt of instructions from Tokio but declined to say whether these committed them to actual reopening of ot the question of capital ships The British dominion delegation i ihas has been str strengthened by the ar arrival arrival nr- nr i rival of Kevin O'Higgins foreign minister and anti minister of ot Justice 11 Inthe In inthe the new c cabinet binet of ot the free tle rC I state John Costello attorney general gen geri- en enera era eral of or the new free tree state and I rnest rn- rn I est I LaPointe minister of i Justice Mr O'Higgins enjo r the 1 distinction of baing the only only- foreign minister the present nt 1 fer ference nce or or Y no now In Ie Geneva In any liny I capacity I TOKIO June 29 AP AP- AP AP Notwithstanding ot I standing the present apparent dif dif- I Continued on page 2 I BRIT BRITAIN AIN CLINGS TO DISCUSSION OF BATTLESHIPS I Continued from page 1 1 I fering views of the three delegations dele at the Geneva naval limitation conference conference con con- ference there is general optimism here that an among the powers will finally be reached The reaction to the conference cf the vernacular news newspapers apers and the pub pub- lid lic hOlve er however ho has been somewhat apathetic AUXILIARIES OF INTEREST Both the for foreign office oHIce and the navy department have expressed hope and ana belief that the differences will be Ironed out although it Is expected to require some lime limo The rhe navy department has nas reiterated Its sincere desire for an agreement on auxiliary war vessels the primary object of the conference and has Indicated willingness to to discuss capital ships as its a concession through which such an agreement ement could be reach reached d sooner One spokesman of or the department ep said he did not object to the conference conference conference con con- ference discussing capital ships when the question of or auxiliary war var w r vessels was disposed of It is also understood there thero would be na no ob objection objection objection ob- ob to reducing the tonnage of capital capit l ships Admiral Saito head of the Japanese Japanese Japa Japa- nese delegation at Geneva is known to be constantly In communication with the navy department therefore therefore there there- fore ore it is considered likey that new instructions may be forthcoming at any time Some of the vernacular newspapers newspapers newspapers pers give It as their view that a discussion of capital ships after an agreement Is reached on auxiliary ships would not be harmful and might assist In clearing up the situation situation situation sit sit- I for settlement at a. a future i conference |