London Naval Conference
Encyclopedia
There were three major international naval conferences in London
, the first in 1908-09, the second in 1930 and the third in 1935. The latter two, together with the Washington Naval Conference
in 1921-22 and the Geneva Conferences (1927 and 1932), resulted in agreements between the major powers on navy vessel numbers, armaments and the rules of engagement in the inter-war period.
, with the United Kingdom
hoping for the formation of an International Prize Court. Ten nations sent representatives, the main naval powers of Europe and the United States
and Japan
. The conference met from December 4, 1908 to February 26, 1909. The agreements were issued as the Declaration of London
, containing seventy-one articles it restated much existing international maritime law.
The signatories' governments did not all ratify the Declaration and it never went into effect. During the First World War the neutral United States pushed for the major antagonists to respect the treaty, hoping that the good protection in the Declaration for neutral vessels would be enforced.
. The UK, the USA, France, Italy and Japan attended. The major change was in battleship tonnage, altering the ratio between Britain, the US and Japan from 5:5:3 to 10:10:7, France and Italy excluded themselves from the new ratio agreement. All five agreed to a five-year halt on capital ship
construction, tighter controls on submarine
warfare, and the continuation of limits on aircraft carrier
s signed in the Washington Naval Treaty
. The next meeting was planned for 1935, with preliminary bi-lateral negotiations continuing through 1934.
, on tonnage and the UK, France and the USA agreed a ratio of construction. All five powers were constructing vessels violating the agreements by 1938.
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, the first in 1908-09, the second in 1930 and the third in 1935. The latter two, together with the Washington Naval Conference
Washington Naval Conference
The Washington Naval Conference also called the Washington Arms Conference, was a military conference called by President Warren G. Harding and held in Washington from 12 November 1921 to 6 February 1922. Conducted outside the auspices of the League of Nations, it was attended by nine nations...
in 1921-22 and the Geneva Conferences (1927 and 1932), resulted in agreements between the major powers on navy vessel numbers, armaments and the rules of engagement in the inter-war period.
First conference
The first conference was a continuation of the debates of the 2nd Hague ConferenceHague Conventions (1899 and 1907)
The Hague Conventions were two international treaties negotiated at international peace conferences at The Hague in the Netherlands: The First Hague Conference in 1899 and the Second Hague Conference in 1907...
, with the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
hoping for the formation of an International Prize Court. Ten nations sent representatives, the main naval powers of Europe and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. The conference met from December 4, 1908 to February 26, 1909. The agreements were issued as the Declaration of London
Declaration of London
The London Declaration concerning the Laws of Naval War is an international code of maritime law, especially as it relates to wartime activities, proposed in 1909 at the London Naval Conference by the leading European naval powers, as well as the United States and Japan, after a multinational...
, containing seventy-one articles it restated much existing international maritime law.
The signatories' governments did not all ratify the Declaration and it never went into effect. During the First World War the neutral United States pushed for the major antagonists to respect the treaty, hoping that the good protection in the Declaration for neutral vessels would be enforced.
Second conference
The London conference of January 21 to April 22, 1930 was concerned with the agreements reached in Washington in 1922 that resulted in the Washington Naval TreatyWashington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
. The UK, the USA, France, Italy and Japan attended. The major change was in battleship tonnage, altering the ratio between Britain, the US and Japan from 5:5:3 to 10:10:7, France and Italy excluded themselves from the new ratio agreement. All five agreed to a five-year halt on capital ship
Capital ship
The capital ships of a navy are its most important warships; they generally possess the heaviest firepower and armor and are traditionally much larger than other naval vessels...
construction, tighter controls on submarine
Submarine
A submarine is a watercraft capable of independent operation below the surface of the water. It differs from a submersible, which has more limited underwater capability...
warfare, and the continuation of limits on aircraft carrier
Aircraft carrier
An aircraft carrier is a warship designed with a primary mission of deploying and recovering aircraft, acting as a seagoing airbase. Aircraft carriers thus allow a naval force to project air power worldwide without having to depend on local bases for staging aircraft operations...
s signed in the Washington Naval Treaty
Washington Naval Treaty
The Washington Naval Treaty, also known as the Five-Power Treaty, was an attempt to cap and limit, and "prevent 'further' costly escalation" of the naval arms race that had begun after World War I between various International powers, each of which had significant naval fleets. The treaty was...
. The next meeting was planned for 1935, with preliminary bi-lateral negotiations continuing through 1934.
Third conference
The December 1935 meeting was held with the treaties having a year to run. It marked the effective collapse of the controls, as Japan withdrew from the agreement after her requests for parity in naval power with the big two were rejected. The remaining powers signed a weak agreement, the Second London Naval TreatySecond London Naval Treaty
The Second London Naval Disarmament Conference opened in London, the United Kingdom, on 9 December 1935. It resulted in the Second London Naval Treaty which was signed on 25 March 1936.- Description :...
, on tonnage and the UK, France and the USA agreed a ratio of construction. All five powers were constructing vessels violating the agreements by 1938.