Evening star., 1921-12-13
':Big Three ''TakeUp
Navy Ratio Issue
Again Today.
DETAILS OF PARLEYS
YELLED in MYSTERY
Japanese Urging Mutsu,
=, New War Vessel, Be
Saved to Them.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

n1 u. OOCLD LlNSOLNs
The naval ratio Of the United States.
Great Britain and Japan will be con-
sidered at further meeting of the
Big Three" Secretary Hughes. Mr..
Balfour and Admiral Baron Kato, this
afternoon.
The details of the conference of the
Big Three" on this subject are still
closely held. The instructions which
the Japanese delegates have received
from Toxic also are shrouded in mys-
terry.
japanese Want to Save Mutsu.
Nevertheless from an authoritative
source today came intimations
that the japanese are strongly urg-
ing that their big new vessel. the
Mutsu, be allowed them. Under the
American plan it would be scrapped.
The naval ratio, the ten-year naval
building holiday. and the fortifica-
tions in the far east--of the United
was said, in the discussion now go
ing on.
retain the Mutsu, 1t was pointed out.
and the naval ratio of 5-5-3. as laid
down by the American proposal
should be adopted. it would be nee
essary to allow the United States and
Great Britain to retain or construct
additional capital ship tonnage.
How Situation Stands.
Today it appears:
That the 5-5-3 naval ratio will be
finally agreed upon.
That the status quo of Notifications
in the far east will be retained. with
the understanding that additional
-fortifcations are not, to be erected
during the ten-year naval building
period.
That the ten-year naval holiday
be agreed to. with changes only in
Little difficulty is expected over An
agreement on the ten-year naval
building holiday. The peoples OF all
three nations. it is said. have made
themselves heard as enthusiastic In
support of the plan.
Discussion ON DetalIs.
There has been some discussion as
to the details of the naval holiday
and the practical manner in which
naval construction is to be kept from
falling entirely into disuse. If the
Japanese are allowed to retain the
Mutsu, and the 5-5-3 ratio is agreed
upon, then there will be opportunity
for the United States and Great Brit
ain to go ahead with certain small
amount of naval construction to main
tain the ratio.
The naval ratio to be fixed for the
French and Italians is a question Of
extreme Importance. 1t was said to-
day, and will be given consideration
Immediately. The British are partic-
ularly interested in having this mat
ter determined.
Submarine Question Vital
To the British. one Of the most i'm
portant questions to be settled in re-
gard to the limitation of naval arma-
ments is the submarine question. They
are insistent that something be done to
curtail, If not to abolish. the subma-
rines. A British spokesman insists that
the matter is Of such grave Importance
that his delegation will insist that 1t be
given a day to discuss the question of
the abolition of submarine warfare in
an open session of the Washington
conference.
The submarine matter is regarded by
the British as a thing almost apart from
the other problems Of limitation OF naval
armament They say there ia q prin-
ciple involved in it which does not apply
to the matter of capital ships, for in
stance.