The St. Johns herald., 1921-12-01
Would Junk Sixty-SK Ships and Stop Building Until
 Year 1881.
MEANS IMMEDIATE ECONOMY
United States to Equal Britain in New Craft, Japan to Rank Third $26o. 100000 Saved Public
 at Once

ductiOn of the present naval arma mentS, and stern limitation to follow by Great Britain, Japan and the United States, was the proposition laid before the international conference here by Secretary Hughes. It is a concrete proposal to abandon cOnstruc- tiOn of capital ships now being built and to scrap scores of old fighting ships involving nearly 100000 tons in the United States, British and Japan ese navies, lifted the opening session of the disarmament-Paciffc conference : far above the plane of any previous congress of the nations ever held.
 Actually before the delegates to the international conference were aware of what was happening secretary Hughes, true to his promise. had laid the cards of Uncle SamS hand face up on the table.
 The effect of the unexpected move was heightened by the spontaneous indorsement of the executive proposals on the spot by the legislative branch of the American government. The senators, who. occupied one balcony. and the representatives, who were in another, simultaneously arose as Mir. Hughes csncluded presentation of the reduction program and loosed a tor rent of applause.
 Huge Saving From the Start.
 It is pointed out that the proposals mean in the direct, immediate matter of economy to the American people saving of $260,OOO,OOO through the scrapping of the 15 capital ships how building. It would cost that sum to complete them. Already $332. 100000 7 has been spent on them.
 Here's the American Plan.
 The American proposals summarized follow:
 l. The United States, Great Britain and Japan agree to navy bnilding holiday for ten years, during which time no new ships shall be built
 2. All uncOmpleted capital ships and numerous specific older capital ships to be scrapped at once.
 3. All building programs, either ac- tual or projected, to be abandoned at once.
 4. The sea power of the three na- tionS to be maintained on a basis of a tonnage parity between the American and the British navies and of Jap anese navy of three-fifths the tonnage of either of the others.
 3. The capital ship to be the unit of l measurement of naval strength and a prOportiOnate allowance of auxiliary | craft to be prescribed.
 Size of RepIaeements.
 6. The size of the capital ships built | for replacement shall be limited to 25.- 900 tons, compared with 46.OOO tons. l the maximum now building, and az gregate capital ship tonnage is to be limited to 500,O0O each for England | and the United States and 3OO.OOO for Japan.
 z. Auxiliary cruisers and destroyers, the keels of which have been already laid, to be completed, but replacements to be on basis of a maximum 45OOOO tons each for England and the United States and 27O,OOO tons for Japan.
 8. Same provision for submarines with the maximum tonnage 9OOOO each for England and the United States and 54,0OO for Japan.
 g. Total tonnage of airplane carriers to be limited to S0.000 each for Eng land and the United States and 4S.OOO for Japan.
 10. Only capital ships and airplane carriers 20 years old, cruisers IT years old. and destroyers and sub marines 12 years old may be replaced.
 No Limit on Naval Aircraft.
 IL Limitation of naval aircraft deemed impracticable because of easy of commercial aircraft to war uses.
 12. Conversion of merchant marine to warships to be regulated by agree ment
 13. No ships to be built for or dis posed of to other nations.