London Naval Treaty Act 1930 (Cth)

LONDON NAVAL TREATY.

 

No. 44 of 1930.

An Act to enable effect to be given to a Treaty signed at London on behalf of His Majesty and certain other Powers and to repeal Section Seven of the Treaties of Washington Act 1922.

[Assented to 18th August, 1930.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the London Naval Treaty Act 1930.

Reference to London Naval Treaty 1930 to be included in section 5 of Treaties of Washington Act1922.

2.—(1.) Section five of the Treaties of Washington Act 1922 (imposing restrictions on the building and delivery of vessels of war for the purpose of securing the observance of the obligations imposed by the Treaty for the Limitation of Naval Armaments, signed at Washington on the sixth day of February One thousand nine hundred and twenty-two), shall have effect as if the reference, in the proviso to sub-section (1.) of that section, to that Treaty, included a reference to the Treaty for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armaments, which was signed on behalf of His Majesty in London on the twenty-second day of April One thousand nine hundred and thirty, and contains, amongst other provisions, the provisions set out in the Schedule to this Act.

(2.) This section shall commence on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.

Repeal.

3. Section seven of the Treaties of Washington Act 1922 is repealed.

 

THE SCHEDULE

——

Provisions of Treaty for the Limitation and Reduction of Naval Armaments referred to in Section 2 of This Act.

Article 3.

1. For the purposes of the Washington Treaty, the definition of an aircraft carrier given in Chapter II, Part 4 of the said Treaty is hereby replaced by the following definition:

The expression “aircraft carrier” includes any surface vessel of war, whatever its displacement, designed for the specific and excusive purpose of carrying aircraft and so constructed that aircraft can be launched therefrom and landed thereon.

2.The fitting of a landing-on or flying-off platform or deck on a capital ship, cruiser or destroyer, provided such vessel was not designed or adapted exclusively as an aircraft carrier, shall not cause any vessel fitted be charged against or classified in the category of aircraft carriers.

******

 

Schedule—continued.

Article 4.

******

2. As from the coming into force of the present Treaty in respect of all the High Contracting Parties, no aircraft carrier of 10,000 tons (10,160 metric tons) or less standard displacement mounting a gun above 6.1-inch (155 mm.) calibre shall be constructed within the jurisdiction of any of the High Contracting Parties.

Article 5.

An aircraft carrier must not be designed and constructed for carrying a more powerful armament than that authorized by Article IX or Article X of the Washington Treaty, or by Article 4 of the present Treaty, as the case may be.

Wherever in the said Articles IX and X the calibre of 6 inches (152 mm.) is mentioned, the calibre of 6.1 inches (155 mm.) is substituted therefor.

Article 6.

1. The rules for determining standard displacement prescribed in Chapter II, Part 4 of the Washington Treaty, shall apply to all surface vessels of war of each of the High Contracting Parties.

2.The standard displacement of a submarine is the surface displacement of the vessel complete (exclusive of the water in non-watertight structure) fully manned, engined, and equipped ready for sea, including all armament and ammunition, equipment, outfit, provisions for crew, miscellaneous stores, and implements of every description that are intended to be carried in war, but without fuel, lubricating oil, fresh water or ballast water of any kind on board.

3.Each naval combatant vessel shall be rated at its displacement tonnage when in the standard condition. The word “ton”, except in the expression “metric tons”, shall be understood to be the ton of 2,240 pounds (1,016 kilos.).

Article 7.

1.No submarine the standard displacement of which exceeds 2,000 tons (2,032 metric tons) or with a gun above 5.1-inch (130 mm.) calibre shall be acquired by or constructed by or for any of the High Contracting Parties.

2. Each of the High Contracting Parties may, however, retain, build or acquire a maximum number of three submarines of a standard displacement not exceeding 2,800 tons (2,845 metric tons); these submarines may carry guns not above 6.1-inch (155 mm.) calibre. Within this number, France may retain one unit, already launched, of 2,880 tons (2,926 metric tons), with guns the calibre of which is 8 inches (203 mm.).

******

4.