Norwich bulletin., 1921-12-14

Washington, Dec 13.-(By the A. P)-
Announcement by the. Washington CON
ference of agreement on the "5-5-3" naval
ratio between Great Britain, Japan and
the United States loonled tonight as prob
able efore the weekend. Flenary ses-
sion f-r the purpose is expected by some
delegates.
Japan has indicated conditional agree
ment 10 the $3.50 ratio. Her accept
ance was corwled however, with re-
quest 10 substitute the new battleshlp
Nutsu for the dld 12-inch gun ship Setsu
IN the list of ships she would retain un-
der the Hughes proposal.
The decision of the Japanese g5vern-
rnent was communicated informally TO
Mr. Hughes and Mr. Balfour by Baron
Kato and was discussed today by the
fun American delegation at a conference
attended by Assistant Secretary Roose
welt Later the "Big Three" of the naval
covers. Messrs Hughes, Balfour, and ka-
r.. again met, this time Mr.. Roosevelt
Admiral Coontz and Rear Admiral Pratt
Of the general board attending the ses-
sion. After this meeting it was said tina
20 n.very small point" remained unsettled
d. It was indicated hat both the Amerl-
can and British groltEps were opposed III
general way to changing the. INST OF re-
tanned ships OF each power as would De
uecessitated If Japan retained the Mutsu'
This opposition, however is expected III
conference circles to Civ eway If the
iJapanese are insistent. in that case, II
was learned the United States probably
,,-,,,,ld retain the battleshfps Colorado and
washington in place of the Delaware an
North Dakota. and the ten year haNai
holiday would Of necessity be modified to
hermit Great Britain 10 construct Two
additional ships. 49,
The japanese proposal to retain .he
Aiutsu in place Of the Setsu Is IN line
with the contention Of Japanese naval eA-
merits of during the first discussion of the
rs,-a1 ratio that experts of aN nations
,vsra agreed that ships armed with IL
inch Guns could rot lie in the battle fn9
against modern craft armed with l4rrncn'
15-inch or 16-inch rifles. Both the set
su and the Delaware and North Dakota
are l2-inch gun ships while the Mutus arc
IN. Colorado and Washington eacn carry
eight 1s-inch rifles
Great Britain has no battleshlps OF
,,,ne a. far advanced as the Mutnsu, anc
the Colorado and Washington. me heaN
lest British naval guns are 15-inch. IRE
r-,-nsolv. II provision is made fer two
sssitionsl British battleships to take tnt
.,,iaro Of 4he -tvso oldest SHIPS of the hlne
George V class on the present retained
list. vessels Of the Mutsu type and arnna-
lrrant would be added. The four supe'
Hoods planned by the British and to D.
abandoned are to be more than 4o'VV'
tons in displacement and beyond the 90
600 tons maximum limit proposed IN Tn
American plan.
So far as the United States is concern
Cd. substitution of the Colorado an
Washington for the North Dakota an
Delaware is regarded in the America
group as having certain economic advan
tases. 1t would defer replacement huild
ing for these two ships until ten year
after the naval holiday ended. 1t woul
also give the fleet three modern 16-inc
gun ships which have very much IN
creased degree of security against subma
rine attack due to hull construction, fo
the Maryland now with the fleet. is SIS
ter ship to the Colorado and Washington
The fourth ship Of the class, the Yves
Virginia, was launched just after th
conference began. She is destined for tn
scrap heap in any case, apparently.
Pending a settlement as to tt
AIutsu. other phase sof the naval proro:
ais such as the French and Italian ratio
and British desire TO abolish submarine
entirely were in allegiance.