Pueblo chieftain., 1921-11-14

Associated Press)-Delegate to arms
conference had not recovered today
from the shock of Secretary of State
Hughes blunt presentation Saturday
of the proposal for immediate reduc-
tion of the fleets of Great Britain, the
United States and Japan, and for a
ten year naval holiday.
The concrete terms OF the American
plan laid by the opening session were
Still in the hands of the naval experts
of the other two powers chiefly con-
cerned. Pending their conclusions, no
further step is probable. Spokesmen
for Britain and Japan had nothing to
add to their previous guarded COM
ments. AS far as they went. those
statements were encouraging and 1t
was certain at least that no possibil-
ity of flat rejection of the plan exist
ed. Without doubt it will form tho
basis for reaching whatever conclu-
sions the conference brings forth.
With further time for study the
American plan began to stand out to-
day In its true proportions. Apparent
1y 1t is far more than a ten year naval
holiday is projected. coupled with
immediate heavy reduction OF the
fleets of the three powers. Beyond
that is a third, equally blunt sugges-
tion for continuing agreement. to
limit the size OF battle fleets pcrman-
emily. That Is what Mr.. Hughes naval
replacement plan really amounts to.
In naming ships to which each main
battle fleet would be cut IL the Ameri-
can plan for immediate disarmament
were accepted SecretaryN Hughes
statement shows that Great Britain
and the United States would be on an
equality on the number of battlcships
but the British would retain, in ad
dition. four battlccruisers.
The proposed Japanese fleet would
be composed OF six battleships and
four battlecruiscrs while tho United
States would be content with battle-
ships alone. This may prove more
significant as the discussions proceed
some naval officers believe. 1t appears
probable that in proposing to agree
that both of the island powers should
be provided in equal number with the
newest additions to the main fleets.
while the United States made no at
tempt for ten years at least to equip
tho American fleet similarly. the
American delegation sought to convey
a definite assurance. that America as
President Harding said, came to the
discussion with no selfish purpose to
serve.
REIMBURSEMENT by the United States
OF any battlccruiscr element. some Of
ficers said, at once indicated clearly
that tho navy was not being main
tained with the deliberate idea that 1t
might some day become advisable to
raid the sea commerce of the two in
sular powers. or either OF them.
Battiecruiscrs would be invaluabie;
perhaps vital to successful prosecu-
tion of a naval war across tho ?:1Sis..c,
it was said. In the proposal that the
other two powers retain battIecruiscr
squadrons also these observers saw a
possible concrete expression of Ameri-
can recognition OF tho necessities in
naval forces of those countries. OF
American willingness that they should
prosecute legitimate ventures over the
world requiring far flung merchant
routes and employ for protection of
those routes naval craft they thought
best suited to tho need.
AS n continental power altho as
serting in this proposal tho right to an
equal footing with any nation on tho
seas the United States might not
necessarily need battlecruiscrs as tho
other powers feel they do 1t was said.
At any rate the American proposal
has made n flat proposition as to bat
tlccruiscrs which 1t was thought might
be different of treatment at the con-
ference. 1t rctNains TO be seen what
Japan and Great Britain think about
1t but a long step toward agreement
on that question has been taken naval
folk believe. The actual business OF
negotiation. will get under way to-
morrow, when heads of delegations
will meet to discuss procedure a sub
ject likely to develop into one OF tho
most important OF the conference.
From every interested power have
come expressions emphasizing that the
order in which tho topics appear ON
the program would have significant
bearing on the ability of the confer
cucc to move quickly toward praoaical
results.
To agree on preliminary details two |
meetings will be held. In the morning
tho committee on program and pro-
ccouro Tor limitation of armament OF
which the heads OF the American. |
British. French. Italian and Japanese |
arc members, will consider |
the armament end of tho program and |
in the afternoon the committee on pro-
gram and procedure for Far Eastern |
questions consisting of the heads. OF |
tho delegations OF all nine delegations |
holding seats In the conference will |
assemble.
During tho afternoon the American |
advisory committee win meet and |
chairman Sutherland will announce tho |
personnel of the six subcommittocs.
Technical advisers tomorrow will |
further study tho American proposal |
under which tonnage figures in cspi- |
tai ships for the three powers for i'm.
mediate reductions would be:
Great Britain, 6ot. .450: United States |
500. $50; Japan. 20. 700. The list of ships |
to be retained shows that the British |
over the United States |
is practically all In her four battle |
cruisers. In that way apparently the |