Text drawn up at First Reading, 26 April 1927 (Extract)
Section II. – Naval Armaments.
Article NA
(British Draft.) The High Contracting Parties agree to limit to the figures laid down the number and tonnage of all the ships in each of the classes specified in Annex | (French Draft) The limitation of naval armaments agreed to by each of the High Contracting Parties is shown in the annexed Table X.The figures in column I of this table represent the total tonnage that each of the High Contracting Parties considers it essential to attain for the purposes of security and the defence of its national interests. The figures in column II represent the total tonnage that each of the High Contracting Parties considers it necessary to complete before the expiry of the Convention. The figures in column III represent, for each of the High Contracting Parties, the division of the total tonnage stated by it in column II into total tonnage by groups. These total tonnage groups apply to all ships of a similar nature in the following manner: (a) capital ships; (b) aircraft carriers; (c) surface ships of less than 10,000 tons; (d) submarines. Each of the High Contracting Parties, while keeping within the limits of total tonnage stated in column II, can alter such division as it deems necessary for its security, subject to informing the Secretariat of the League of Nations of the changes brought to the division of its total tonnage, at least one year before laying down the portion of the tonnage which is to be transferred. Note: Each of the High Contracting Parties states in column III the division of its total tonnage, either into the four groups of vessels as stated in paragraph 4, or only into those groups which it considers necessary for its needs of security. | (Italian Draft) Each of the High Contracting Parties, within the limits of the total tonnage which it undertakes not to exceed, may distribute and arrange its tonnage to the best advantage for its national interests, subject to communicating to the Secretariat of the League of Nations, at least six months before laying down the keel, the characteristics of each vessel of war which it intends to construct, in conformity, for example with Article XVI of the Treaty of Washington. |
TABLE X. – Annex to Article NA of French Draft
Total Tonnage of Warships
I. Tonnage essential for the purposes of security and the defence of national interests. | II. Tonnage to be completed before the expiry of the convention | III. Division into total tonnage by groups of the total tonnage stated in column II. | ||||||
Total tonnage of | ||||||||
|
Article NB
| (British Draft.) The High Contracting Parties agree to limit to the figures laid down in Annex ... for each class of ship the maximum tonnage of any one ship and the calibre of the largest gun that may be mounted thereon. | (French and Italian Draft) The High Contracting Parties agree to limit to the figures laid down in Annex ... the tonnage of the largest vessel of war and the calibre of the largest gun mounted in any vessel of war. |
Article NC
(British Draft.)
The High Contracting Parties agree to limit to the figures laid down in Annex ... the maximum diameter of the largest torpedo tube carried by any ship.
Article NE.
(French Draft)
In assessing total tonnage, a fraction only equal to ... per cent of the real tonnage shall be calculated in the case of vessels of war which have exceeded the age-limit indicated in Table of the Annex.
Article ND.
The standard displacement of a ship is the displacement of the ship complete, fully manned, engine and equipped ready for sea, including all armament and ammunition, equipment, outfit, provisions and fresh water for crew, miscellaneous stores and implements of every description that are intended to be carried in war, but without fuel or reserve feed water on board.
This assessment shall be in metric tons.
Article NF.
The High Contracting Parties undertake that, except in the case of loss, no vessel of war shall be replaced before having reached the age limit indicated in table ... of the Annex. The age of units shall be counted as from the date of their completion.
Article NG.
With the exception of those ships which, in order to effect economy and specially mentioned in the convention as being allowed to be converted into a type of warship other than that for which it was originally designed, no ship which has been replaced may be reconverted into a vessel of war.
Article NH
No preparations shall be made in merchant ships in time of peace for the installation of warlike armaments for the purpose of converting such ships into vessels of war, other than the necessary stiffening of decks for the mounting of guns not exceeding 6 inches (152 millimeters) calibre.
Article NI
No vessel of war constructed within the jurisdiction of any one of the Contracting Parties for a non-contracting Power shall exceed the limitations as to displacement and armament prescribed by the present convention for vessels of a similar type which may be constructed by or for any of the Contracting Powers; provided, however, that the displacement for aircraft carriers constructed for a non-contracting Power shall in no case exceed 27,000 tons (27, 432 metric tons) standard displacement.
Article NJ
In the event of a Contracting Power being engaged in a war, such Power shall not use as a vessel of war any vessel of war which may be under construction within its jurisdiction for any other Power, or which may have been constructed within its jurisdiction for another Power and not delivered.
Article NK.
Each of the Contracting Powers undertakes not to dispose – by gift, sale, or any mode of transfer – of any vessel of war in such a manner that such vessel may become a vessel of war in the navy of any foreign Power.
Source: CMD2888, League of Nations Preparatory Committee of the Disarmament Conference, Third Session, Geneva, March 21 to April 26, 1927. Report of the British Representative to the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, His Majesty’s Stationery Office, London, 1927, pp33-36.
