Middletown transcript., 1921-12-03
AGREEMENT ON
NAVAL RATIO SURE
Complete AnsIo-American-jap
Accord on Big Ships
MuTsu ISSUE NO BAR
British Hope For Allianee-Amer'eans
Unswerved, However, BY At
4. tempts To Add Qualifying
HTE Clauses.

Washington.-A satisfactory agree
ment between Great Britain, Japan and
the United States over naval arma'
ments is looked for within the next
few days. This statement Is made on
authority of representatives OF the
three countries on the committee
which has been analyzing the plan pro-
posed by Secretary Hughes at the first
session of the International Confer
ence. Further confirmation was OBJ
tanned from the spokesman for the
Japanese delegation, who asserted that
there does not seem to be any pos
sibility for disagreement on the linn
itation Of naval armaments." Accord
ing to the Japanese official, "The nego-
tiations have progressed beyond the
point where a disagreement is regard
ed as possible"
That England and the United States
have already reached an agreement Is
declared by the representative0Pf both
nations and an announcement >of the
complete concurrence of Japan may
come any day this week. Japan has
already completed her case. Her ex-.
perts have presented full data re-
garding her navy to the Conference
in support Of her request for the
exemption of the superdreadnaught
Mutsu from operation of the schedule
of capital ships to be scrapped under
the Hughes formula.
The Japanese experts have endeav-
ored to show that the Mutsu was
actually commissioned with full COM
plement of officers and men on Oc-
tober g.. last, has steamed approx,
mately 5000 miles, and is therefore.
exempt from the provisions of the
American plan for disarmament OF
ships Of comparative type. The
Japanese delegates have pointed out
that the bat:leship Maryland was
actually put in commission after that
date, but the United States has pre-
scented data to prove the contrary is
the case.
The Japanese Government there
fore claims that it should be permitted
to retain the Mutsu. 1t is admitted
by the spokesman for Japan from
whom this information was secured
that "even If the United States insists
that the Mutsu shall go there is no
chance for final disagreement"
This assurance-the first to emanate
from Japanese sources-has created
very favorable impression among dele
gates representing all the countries,
despite the fact that the real test Of
Japanese sincerity regarding the Con-
ference will not be reached until the
delegates have set about unscrambling
the China eggs, in which undertaking
japanese interests will be vitality at
fected.
The only formal statement made on
Japan's position on navies was made
by Vice Admiral Kenzei Kato, naval
expert with the Japanese delegation,
who said that Japan needed the 70 per
cent. ratio to safeguard the Empire.
His attitude is that of the Japanese
experts, but the word of Admiral Baron
Kato and the delegates, stated on the
basis of the political consideration in
volved, will outline the true Japanese
position in the Conference.
1t is learned on very good Japanese
authority that the Mikado's Govern
ment is less apprehensive regarding
the fate of the Anglo-Japanese Alli-
ance, which is regarded as funda-
mentally important to both Great
Britain and Japan than has been be-
lieved to date. The subject of the al
lance has not been brought up Off
cially at the Conference. British, Jap
anese and the United States delegates
have discussed the matter Informally
without reaching a decision.
Great Britain is understood to be
more concerned at this time for a
renewal of the alliance than Japan.
Representatives Of the latter country
assert they have no fear Of trouble
with the United States. while Great
Britain may need help Of the japanese
army and navy in the Orient and par
fir,,1o rlxr IN Tndio