The New York herald., 1921-12-16

for which the international confer
enrt vas called.
THO American delegation further
q ,ed that the revision of the
1Hg es formula caused by the deter
al ton of Japan to save the Mutsu
wcl l result in a great saving of
laopay to the people of the United
Sta4es and Japan, although it would
we an increase to Britain in
pu'aing two superdreadnoughts to
aa' h the Mutsu, which is saved
rIl the scrap pile.
The Japanese delegates and large
contingent of their advisers and po-
litical representatives are celebrating
tonight what they describe to be a
Sreat Japanese triumph, and there is
no question but that their fight was
not only intelligently conducted but
the victory magnificently won. The
American delegation in announcing
the agreement over capital ships con-
1irmed the popular impression that the
salvation OF the Japanese naval giant
idi 6NlS NuCldltu Dy
- siderations due the pride of the
V ole of Japan. who raised money by
Y llar subscription to build her and
y ardently desired her retention.
order to save the Mutsu the
Fana 1ese presented rearrangement
III ie totals contained in the original
proposal advanced by Mr.. Hughes at
fhe first session of the international
ference whereby other ships in the
kl lado's fleet were sacrificed to keep
81 hin the total of the allotment al
lowed.
Both the United States and Great
Britain opposed on principle the re-
ention Of the Mutsu on the ground
that it would invite competition and
they only changed their position late
to-day when it was made plain to them
that the japanese Government was
willing to accept even further reduc-
tion in the total tonnage allotted by
the Hughes formula if permitted to
retain the pride OF her navy.
Increased Tonnage Yielded.
In abandoning their original posi-
rtion, the American and British dele
gates accepted the Japanese offer
which will permit the United States
and Great Britain to finish or enter
on construction of tonnage equiva-
lent to that represented by the Japa-
nese ship.
Under the agreement finally reached
the United States is to complete the
Colorado and the Washington, which
are 80 per cent. ready, and scrap the
North Dakota and the Delaware and
permit the British to construct two
new ships of the post-Jutland type,
which shall not exceed $4,000 tons
each.
The figures finally accepted by the
American and British delegates were
approved by them as most satisfactory,
although Congressional and Journals
tic critics of the conference declare
that Secretary Hughes was compelled
TO assent to the Japanese demand in
order to obtain acceptance Of the
fundamentals of his original formula.
Such statements are disregarded as
unworthy of serious consideration
Mr.. Hughes has contended all along
that his formula was proposed as
1 Nne OASIS IOr discussion ana con-
sideration," and was susceptible Of
revision on reasonable grounds. This
statement was confirmed by Mr.. Bal
four and Baron Kato tonight.
With the capital ship problem as
far as 1t relates to the United States.
Great Britain and Japan disposed OF.
she representatives Of those countries
will Immediately proceed to complete
the remaining features of the naval
programme of the agenda. The first
step in this direction will be to deter
mine the relative capital ship strength
10 be allotted to France and Italy.
While admission is made that there
are just as many difficulties in the
way, American, British and Japanese
delegates with their own particular
problem solved will attempt to pro-
cure the consent of France to a rea-
sonable naval limitation compatible
with her actual defence needs. The
French naval experts continue to in
sist upon the maximum figures OF
$4,000 tons, which the American and
British delegates regard as entirely ex-
lCessive.
Italians willing to Yield.