Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-14
Proof of Sincerity
Continued from Page one)

1
specific figures for aggregate ton.
mage being laid down.
| Should the plan be accepted thu
United States will retain only these
capital ships:
Maryland, California, Tennessee
Idaho, Mississippi. New Mexico, Ari
iona, Pennsylvania, Oklahoma, Ne.
vada, Texas, New York, Arkansas
Wyoming, Utah, Florida. North Da.
kota. Delaware.
That naval craft be disregarde(
in the scaling down processes as z
problem incapable of solution owing
to the convertibility of commercial
aircraft for war purposes.
That no naval building of any
character be undertaken in any o.
the three countries on foreign .ac.
! count during the life of the agree
ment.
That no capital ships hereafter
laid down exceed 5000 tons.
| That the life of a battleship shall
be fixed at 20 years and that Ships
to be replaced be destroyed before
the replacement vessel is more thar
three months past completion.
That no battleships replacement
whatever be undertaken for 10 years
from date of the agreement.
| That no combat craft be acquired
| except by, construction and none be
! so disposed of that it might become
| part of another navy.
! That regulations to govern con-
version of merchant craft for wal
purposes be drawn up. because OF
| the Importance of the merchant ma
naval armamcnts'
U. S. Goes Farther Than Others
Those are the outstanding features
of the sweeping changes Secretary
Hughes presented to the other naval
| powers. There was complete detail
! covering every phase of the ques-
ton. but the essence of the propose
lay in this: That the United States
offered to go far LeyOnd what she
| asked Great Britain or Japan to do
viewed from the absolute financial
loss involved. The whole American
big shipbuilding program is on the
stocks, While Great Britain has no
capital ships under construction and
/ the Japanese eight and eight" pro-
gram is as yet largely on paper.
Military and naval attaches ap-
peared in full dress uniforms, max
ing a show of plumes and spangles
such as Washington has not seen
since the war. Almost all the others
were in the conventional dress of the
diplomatic service.
Vice President and Mrs. Coolidge
and Mrs. Gillett, Occupied box to
the right rear of the American dele
cation. Mrs. George Maynard Minor
of Connecticut, president general of
the ID. A. r., had seat of honor in
box with a party.
Earl Beatty, putting his glasses to
his eyes, searched for his own seat,
and found it in the first row of the
British advisers.
The delegates from India, Srini-
vasa Sastri. wearing a white silk tur-
ban, added a touch of color to the
! picture. General Pershing took his
place with the advisory committee
and was quickly surrounded by rep
rescntativeS of other armies with
whom he was associated.
Premier BRAND and NJ. Niviani
stood together chatting behind their
chairs as Prince Tokugawa of the
Japanese delegation came in and en-
gagged in conversation with Sir Auck-
land Geddes, the British ambassa :
dor. Mr.. Balfour entered with for
mer Premier Borden OF Canada.
Applause for Americans
The first applause. hearty and gen.
erous. broke when Secretary Hughes
and the entire American delegation
took their seats at 1925 o'clock.
A momentary hush fell upon the
assemblage after the applause greet
ing the entrance of the American
delegation and then the storm OF con-
versation broke loose again.
Secretary Hughes sat in the center
of the tables. with white slab of
marble and a small gavel in front of
him. At his right. in order, were
Senator Lodge. Elihu Root and Sena-
tor Underwood. On the secretary's
left was Mr.. Balfour. Tent thirty. the
official hovr of opening the confer
encc. passed with some of the dele
cations still absent. Mr.. Hughes
watched the clock and the confusion
around the doorway.
The audience rose and cheered as
Mrs. Harding took her place at the
front of the box where the vice persi-
dent sat.
The President came in at 1888
o'clock and Immediately Secretary
Hughes called the conference to or
der.
Prayer by Hardines Pastor
Prayer was offered by the Presi-
dents pastor, the Rev W. s. Aber-
nethy of Calvary Baptist church.
Regarding the naval ornaments of
France and Italy the American pro-
posal says:
I'm view of certain extra ordinary
conditions due to the world war af-
fecting the existing. strength in the
navies of France and Italy, the Unit
ed States does not consider nee
cssary the discussion at this stage
OF the proceedings of the tonnage al
lowance of these nations. but propos-
es it be reserved for the later con-
sideration of the conference"
First Meeting Opens
Although the opening hour of the
first session was set for 1880 o'clock
the notables began arriving soon af-
ter 10 to hear the opening address of