Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-16
TO keep MUTSU
NREIURNFOR
j. 5. AGREEMENT
To Offset japanese Cruiser
u. S. Will Complete 2
Fast Capital Ships
BRITAIN'S BALANCE
Secretary Hughes Declares Pact is
Greatest Step For Peace The World
Has Ever Taken.

In return for that concession she
has fully approved the 5-5-3 naval
ratio of Secretary Hughes.
And this, in the opinion of Sec
retary Hughes himself, uttered last
night to the committee of fifteen
dealing with the limitation Of the
naval armament of the five leading
powers of the world. is the great
est single step ever made toward
permanent and lasting peace.
There still is to be cleared up the
comparative naval ratio of France
and Italy. But that is to be worked
out at a series of conferences begin
ming this morning and officials last
night said that complete success on
this point already is assured.
Until the ratio for all of the five
nations, the United States, Great
Britain. Japan. France and Italy is
complete, there will be no plenary
session to make the results public
and confirm them before the world.
But Secretary Hughes last night fol-
lowing out his promise to keep the
developments in the conference, an
nounced the agreement on the Big
Three ratio and the terms under
which it was reached. He made 1t
plain that the result of the naval
agreement will be incorporated in
treaty form so that the people of the
United States. represented in the Sem
ate, could place the seal of public ap-
proval on the work accomplished.
The Secretary in making public
the result to date took occasion to-
speak in the highest terms Of the
spirit of Cancellation and effort that
has prevailed at all Of the meet
ings of himself and his associates.
Every effort has been made at all
times. he said, to reach an agree
mcnt that would be just and equitable
to all concerned.
The compromise on the Nutsu
brought adequate compensation to
both the United States and Great
Britain. In return for the conces-
sion to Japan the United States will
complete and put into commission
her two latest type of capital light
ing ships, the Colorado and the Wash
ington Great Britain will be allowed
to Immediately construct two pre-
ships of an enlarged Royal
Sovereign type. In this way the bal
ancc of ratio will be maintained in
asmuch as Japan will now scrap the
Settsu, one Of her older ships; the
United States, the North Dakota and
the Delaware, and Great Britain, four
the King George Y. the Erin, the
Ccnturian and the Ajax.
The result Of the compromise IS
that under the new arrangement the
three interested powers retain in their
navics vessels OF the latest type, good
for twenty years of service and scrap
seven Of Il type that would be worth
less in decade. They also retain the
naval holiday feature proposed by
the United States while making d
concession to Great Britain whereby
in constructing her two pre-Jutland
craft, she will be able to retain her
expert naval construction force.
The agreement is, of course, con-
ditional on an agreement whereby
the naval ratio Of France and Italy
is to be apportioned There is at pre-
sent considerable difference of opin-
ion there The French are dissatis-
fed with the suggested ratio father
ed by the British. They want more
ships. The British oppose this. But it
is believed that this all can be ironed
out today when the committee of tif-
teen on naval armamcnts get together.
8 ~,