Geneva Naval Conference, 1927

Documents of the Geneva Naval Conference, 1927

As early as December 1924, the newly elected President Coolidge had suggested a new naval conference to extend the Washington Naval Treaty (WNT) ratios to auxiliary warships; however he was politely rebuffed by the British who first wished to focus on the Locarno negotiations, and then preferred to participate in the Preparatory Commission rather than separate naval talks sponsored by the US. In February 1927, the US Government wrote to the other four signatories of the WNT, expressing the opinion that the Preparatory Commission had become entangled in the complexities and diversity of obstacles that needed to be overcome in order to conclude a general agreement for the limitation of all armament, on land, air and sea. As the US Government was anxious to achieve at least some progress on the limitation of armament, it was proposed to empower the representatives of the five WNT powers to initiate negotiations aimed at an agreement to limit the classes of naval vessels not covered by the WNT.

France and Italy declined to participate, allegedly on the basis that they did not wish to make further naval agreements separately from land and air questions, and because an agreement limited to just the signatories of the WNT would not limit other nations. The French were concerned that an agreement limiting cruisers, destroyers, and submarines would be relevant to most navies of the world. The Italians found it unacceptable that several Mediterranean and other powers, notably Russia, Spain, Yugoslavia and Greece, would not be limited – although they did express a willingness to reconsider attending if the US and Britain agreed to support “the thesis of parity between Italy and France.”

In spite of the refusal of the French and Italians to participate (although both were present as observers), the decision was taken to proceed with a three-power conference with just the British Empire, Japan and the US in attendance, and the 1927 Geneva Naval Conference –described as “one of the most dramatically unsuccessful international gatherings of the twentieth century” – was therefore held from 20 June to 4 August 1927.