Arizona republican., 1921-11-15
JAPANESE
 TO DEL AY ' TO PROPOSAL
Japanese Delegates Confer
 With Tokio Before Ac-
 cepting Plan; Britain To Make Counter Proposal
rRepubIIcan A. P. Leased WlreJ


 WASHINGTON, Nov. 1i-Great Britain's acceptance "in principle Of the American proposals for limita- ton of naval armaments contem- plates an alteration of the plan in several important details. The Brit ish acceptance will be presented at tomorrow's plenary session of the conference by A. J. Balfour. head Of the mission. Japan acceptance 'in principle" although forecast by the statements by Baron Admiral Kato may be delayed aa the Japanese mis- sion must confer with Tolxio.
 MT. Balfour may not outline de- tails of Great Britain's reservations, but they are substantially described in this way:
 Instead of a flat ten year holiday Great Britain wants the replacement program to be sn elastic one, spread over period of years.
 Great Britain would like to see the submarine outlawed: failing this. she wants to see their tonnage and their equipment distinctly limited. She feels that the sumersible fleets allowed by the American program are too great: she has had so large a submarine fleet as the proposals would, allow her.
 The United States, Great Britain feels, would have her at a disadvan- tage in airplane carrying ships under the American proposals, because while Great Britain has an equip- ment of these craft. the United States would have to build the number al- lotted. These would be of a later design and of superior improvement while the British ships would be ob- solete.
 Great Britain wants the replace ment program spread over a period of years because British naval experts argue the program could be carried on with a small equipment of bSild- ing plant at a small scale, probably a ship at a time. If a flat ten year holiday were to be declared they say the facilities for making a wholesale replacement after ten years would have to be kept in organization and although great fleets of war ships might be consigned to the junk pile. facilities for reproducing them still would exist.
 Such a program, the British naval experts say. does not go to the root of the question Therefore, they will propose that, for instance, a one ship production equipment be left to each nation, to fit in with replacement program extending over a period of years. and that the immense prop critics, equipment, technical staffs. and other organizations which would have to be kept in readiness to take up replacement program in ten years, be dispensed with.
 Tt isn't the scrapped ships that count; it's the ships afloat," said Admiral Baron Kato today in answer ing questions put by Japanese cor respondents concerning the Ameri- can proposals.
 Isn't it true. Admiral" he was asked, that the ratio of scrapped war ships under the Hughes propo- sition is rather disadvantaseous to Japan. considering the present in ferior naval position of our countryz Aren't they asking too much from us?"
 The admiral responded:
 Scrapped Ships Don't Count
 'Why talk about scrapped ships7 You know that what really counts is the number of fighting ships left afloat and not the number of those to be abandoned"
 The admiral declined to commit himself as to the probable Japanese counter suggestions. but it is under stood that Japan is almost certain to favor the American proposals as a whole, 1t Is probable they will be the subject of a serious discussion.
 Naturally" said one Japanese na- val expert, i've can not swallow in one mouthful this most momentous project which is destined to so vital ly affect the future of our empire. Therefore, we may have counter sug- gestions or proposals"
 The American plan was termed large and generous as well as prac- ticable. The primary question inter esting the Japanese, however, is un- derstood to be whether an eventual ratio for Japan of 60 per cent in capi- tai ships as compared with the United States and Great Britain will be re- garded as a sufficient defensive strength. In favor of its sufficiency, it is pointed out, is the circumstance that Japan's great distance from the other countries concerned makes it less imperative for Japan to possess a powerful defensive fleet.
 But in Japanese minds the question of ratio is linked with two other con alterations One is described as the possible advance of science. which would make it easy for an adversary to transfer his fighting force across the seas at a much greater speed than now. The other is the strength of foreign naval bases in the waters near Japan, from which the adver sary could operate his offensive force.
 Another technical matter occupy