The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-11-23
Negotiations With United
States Not Broken Off
Entirely, it is Said
HITCH CAME OVER
PRICES REQUIRED
Prices offered by This Country for New
Bottoms Said to Be Far Below Figures
Prevailing i'll the Orient Steel a
Factor

Factor.
WASHINGTON, Nov 23.-The ne
gotiations between the United states
and Japan, 10y which the latter is to
surrender part Of her ocean tonnage
in exchange for American steel, have
not been entirely broken off, it is |
claimed here.
The Toxic announcement on this sub
icct. which was construed to mean that
the negotiations had been terminated
fatty by Japan, is interpreted IN adj
vices received here as a warning that,
if the negotiations continue on their
present basis. Japan win feel con
strained To break them off. If this ae-
ton should he taken the japanese GOV
eminent viii issue detailed state
mcnt for the japanese public.
As explained, Japan has stated Its
minimum terms affecting tonnage and
made its maximum concessions, and eN-
pcctcd that. with an agreement upon
the principle ct exchange reached, the
! confcrces would come together on the
exchange itself. But disagreement
arose in the discussion of the details.
| Tie principal points in the negotiations
were outlined rs follows:
Japan offered to the United States
| tonnage that would be q material adj
dition to the United States merchant
| marine. The deliveries were to be of
ships already constructed and others
not yet built.
Two prices for the ships were dnder
/ consideration. One was for those
built, and neither upon the price for
/ these nor the ships themselves could
| the ucgotiators agree. The United
| States demanded new bottoms, but ia
i pan maintained She could not supply
| these without diSorgauizing her trade.
| The mice offered by the United States
was far below the prevailing prices for
| tonnage in Japan. The United States
| also desired deliveries of vessels at
| dates far ahead of the time III which
Japan felt she could deliver them, and
so declined to comply with this de
maud
On the price for tonnage not vet
i constructed Japan maintained that the
figures the United States would de
the price OF new ships the United
States government might contract for
through the japanese government with
the japanese yards. One Of the diff
cultics ON the American side of the
negotiations was not only the amount
OF steel which Japan was to obtain
but also the sources from which this
steel was to come.
japan had outstanding contracts fol
American steel on which the embargo
was put. and it was intimatcd tn,
United states desired TO limit the
amount of steel which Japan might
import to the amount contracted for
while Japan desired not only the eX
ccution Of all outstanding contracts
hut also additional steel for facilitat
ing shipbuilding in Japan.
4 Another point emphasized by japan
! was the dcsirability of standardizin.
| the steel to be obtained here, 50 tina
| the construction Of new tonnage Nigh
not only be facilitated but also 50 tina
| the prices might bc fixed before thci
completion. The steel already contract
l cd for i'm this country, it was stated
i is for ships building or planned, an
: if this steel should be employed in th
construction of bottoms for which tn
1 United States might contract, the p,
riod required for building would h
| greatly prolonged.
| The japanese negotiators are unde
stood to have taken the position tina
in the proposed transaction Japan di
not desire to obtain undue profits, bu
entered the discussion in spirit q
assisting the United States to solve il
ocean transportation problem and {
an indication of Japan S wish to g
1 operate with America in the war. I'll
japanese Government holds that
l is TO the advantage Of America an
l of the Allies to keep the Japanese shiI
/ building yards working to their fin
l capacity.