500.A15/940

Address by the Chairman of the American Delegation (Gibson) Before the Preparatory Commission, May 6, 1929

Mr. Chairman: I made my general statement24 as to a possible method of approach to the naval problem early in our present session chiefly in order to afford other delegations an opportunity to consider it from every aspect and determine to what degree they were in a position to discuss it at the present time. After my statement we learned that certain other governments are making analogous studies which should of course be taken into account in any general discussion. Today we are told that certain governments feel that in order to deal with the matter effectively and expeditiously they require time for careful exploration of the possibilities opened by the American suggestions.

In my opening statement I said that I would be prepared to discuss the American proposals when we reached this chapter on our agenda but obviously this readiness was entirely contingent on the knowledge that other delegations felt prepared to enter upon the subject.

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The solution of the naval problem is in essence simple but in application complex. The technical considerations involved must be studied from many angles and the American Delegation recognizes that our best hope of agreement upon a method lies in having each country come into the discussion prepared to speak on the basis of its independent study and in possession of all the data that it desires. In view of the considerations I have indicated my Government feels that the course best calculated to lead to the successful conclusion of our labors lies in giving time for a careful study of this whole problem. It also feels that in view of other analogous studies which are being made it would not be opportune to embark upon detailed discussion of our suggested method of approach at the present moment. Perhaps the best course is for me to restate what our suggestion is in such a way as to afford a basis for the independent studies which I hope will be made by other interested governments.

In substance equivalent tonnage is an expression used to convey the idea, for comparative purposes, of the military value of individual ships and hence of the total value of any number of such units in any given category in which there may be wide divergences as to unit characteristics composing the category. In arriving at this equivalent of value it would seem advisable to take into account only factors that are simple and obvious, easy to compute and easy to understand. We feel that the problem should not be complicated by the introduction of factors which may well be considered as really no more than elements of the prime factors. In my general statement on this subject I indicated certain factors which include elements that enter into the design of effectiveness, of individual units, that is unit displacement, gun caliber, and age, as well as speed and other factors.

My Government feels that in order not to prejudice such studies as may be pursued independently by other governments it is best to go no further than to outline our suggestion in this manner. It will be clear that the American proposal is no rigid plan to be accepted or rejected. It is a suggestion that a new method of approach based on naval equivalents be explored, and it is in order that there may be complete liberty for independent studies that we have decided not to make any more specific proposals at this stage of our work.

The evidence of a popular desire in all countries to see us press on to our goal has been made abundantly clear. There could be nothing more favorable to the program of our work than the present atmosphere of enthusiasm and good will. We must proceed just as fast as may be consistent with sound and effective handling of the very important and complex problem before us and without jeopardizing the successful conduct of the work through entering precipitately upon discussions for which any of the interested powers is not prepared.

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For that reason I fully concur in the proposal of the Japanese and British delegates to postpone consideration of the naval chapter until such time as the interested powers have signified to you, Mr. Chairman, their readiness to embark upon a general discussion.

  1. Ante, p. 91.