An item dated Geneva, Switzerland 24th reported that Lord Cushenden (1) sent a note with the British proposals to the representatives of the countries which ratified in the past the Washington Naval Treaty.(2)
The British proposals were
a. All new battleships were to be not larger as 30.000 tons.
b. The maximum gun calibre of 16” was decreased to 13.5”.
c. Instead of 20 years were all ships to serve 26 years meaning a withdrawn of the so-called renewing tables as agreed at Washington.
Cushenden also wrote that it was useful to decide about the proposals before the renewing of battleships started.
Notes
1. Ronald John McNeill Cushenden(30 April 1861-12 October 1934);
2. Washington Naval Conference between November 1921-February 1922 signed by USA, England, Japan, Italy and France to limit the building of battleships, battle cruisers and aircraft carriers and to limit the possession of such capital ships by stopping completion of breaking up already existing. Battleships and battle cruisers were limited to maximum 35.000 tons and a maximum calibre of 16” guns. On 20 June 1927 started the Geneva Naval Conference aiming to limit the construction of cruisers, destroyers and submarines. France and Italy were not present at Geneva. This conference failed and was followed by the London Naval Conference resulting in the London Naval Treaty.
