U.S., France, Britain to Await Facts on Japan London, Jan. 21.
Regarding the suggestion that Japan is building 43,000-ton battleships, it is understood that conversations between Great Britain, France and the United States are not likely to materialize until the fullest information is obtained.
Unofficial naval observers believe that if the Escalator Clause is invoked, it will be possible, in the present stage c construction, to make alterations in Britain's ' five battleships which are now being built, ie bring them nearer 43,000 tons.
Plans are also presumed to be in existence by which vessels could be built above the present Treaty limit.
It is learned that the question of a greater warship displacement would not be affected by the dimensions of the Suez Canal. The aver-ego depth of the Canal is 34 feet and H.M.S. Hood, with a displacement of 42,100 tons, has a maximum draught of only 311 feet. The beam does not come into question as the width of the canal is ample.—Reuter.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.