Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-13
COMMITTEE OF
IS TO HANDLE
NAVAL QUESTION
Former Committee Of Elk.
perts "Scrapped'' and New
j
Body Named.
iBx The Associated press.1

Washington, Dec. 12.-New ma
chinery to expedite final action on
naval limitation agreements was set
up today by the arms conference. AT
the suggestion of the American group~
tho former committee. of experts was
"scrapped" in favor Of a. committee
Of fifteen" including both plenary
delegates and civil and laval experts
of the five powers. The whole subject
of naval limitations, including the cor
nerstone five-five-thrce" ratio, was
turned over to the new committee to
be put in final shape for the confer
cnce. -
Meanwhile, it became known hat
the Japanese delegation had received
Instructions from Toxic regarding the
five five-three" ratio.
The nature of tho communication
was not disclosed. There were many
indications, however. that it marked
a long stride toward final acceptance
of this vital point il the naval limit
alton project.
The COMMITTEE OF fifteen" was de>
scribed by a British spokesman as u
means to "short circuit" delays un-
avoidable in the previous division Of
labor between committees Of delegates
and separate committees of naval ex-
perts. The new committee will be
~ ~ AN"SA oSSATAoAo 90 ~ MAJ wv
recommendations to the conference.
Several intermediate steps. will be
eliminated to save time. No other Of
fetal or semi-officiol explanation of
its creation vas given.
Based on Informal Communication.
There were Indications. however,
that the new step was based on an
informal communication from the
Japanese delegation that Japan stood
ready to accept the five five-three
ratio subject to certain notifications.
It appeared likely hat it would be-
come the business Of the COMMITTEE
of fifteen" to write INTO treaty form
for signature by all five powers the
five-three' proposal, but carried out
in detail. If this proves to be the
case, the new committee will seek u
solution Of each phase of he naval
reduction and limitation plan as it
arises, framing. its conclusions into
sections of the proposed treaty.
h new step throws into promi-
hence for the first time in the confer
ence the question of the French and
Italian place in the naval ratio. That
must be worked out by the Commit
tee Of fifteen" Spokesman for Italy
said she was willing to stop where
she is in naval strength, provided she
was allowed equality with France in
ratio. The attitude CT the French
group IN this point al not disclosed.
and British Spokesman indicated tina,
Great Britain must consider the place
Of the French and italian navies as
following in general the five-five.
three ratio agreement between the
! other three powers. #
Another point was particularly
stressed by all British Spokesman
That was 1.-THE firm conviction 4 that
sAbramines should be wholly abolish
ed as naval weapons. It was asserted
however, that British acceptance Of
the "five-five-three'' ratio was in NJ
sense conditional upon such action
s~pokesnen said, .'for a chance to state
her case to the world" as to subma'
rines before a plenary session Of tn,
conference.
The big three" of the naval con.
ference, Secretary Hughes. Arthur
Balfour and Admiral Baron Kato
met today and are understood to have
considered the naval ratio problem
but no announcement of what occur
ed was made. They will confer agai1
tomorrow and. it was regarded a.
probable that they were shaping III
the program for deliberations of tn
committee OF fifteen" in the light o
instructions Baron Kato has receiyet
[frorn Toxic on the "five-five-three'
Jproposal. 4 49,
That the Japanese communication
was regarded as most favorable II
complete agreement as to. MAYA
strength was apparent in both Ameri
can and British circles. One American
official said matters seemed to. b,
rapidly coming to a head" !
Hughes to Head U. S. Group.