Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1921-11-15
Admiral KatO Appiduded When
He Said Japan is Ready to
Make Great Reductions

WASHINGTON. ID. O.. Nov. Is
In union Great Britain. France, Italy
and Japan today accepted In spirit
and principle the American proposals
for limitation Of naval armament,
making only reservations for sug-
gesting notifications of detail.
Great Britain's acceptance was
formally laid before the arms con-
ference today by Arthur Balfour,
heading the British delegation.
Baron Admiral Katos statement
Of acceptance In principle and spirit
for Japan followed.
Before hearing the statements or
the delegations the conference adopt
ed unanimously the committee 0f the
whole plan worked out BY the Big
Five.
Japan's acceptance will include
some notifications Of tonnage in
the scheme Of replacement.
Just after the opening gaveI Bal
four conferred earnestly with Lord
Beatty There was no prayer An
nouncing the program Of decisions
Of the Big Five, Hughes said;
1T Il the intention of this COM
mittee, consisting of all plenipoten-
tiary delegates To consider all mat
tiers and report to the plenary ses-
sion"
He then announced the plan out
lined in respect to the far eastern
questions
Balfour, telling how he heard Sec
retary Hughes proposals Saturday,
said he suddenly realized that nc had
participated in a great historical
event"
II congratulate you on the fact
that you have added new anniver-
sary which henceforth will b. obser-
we'd in connection with this movements
toward reconstruction"
When Baron Kato in his speech de-
clared that Japan is willing to make
sweeping reductions In her fleet the
audience arose and applauded-
In order, Balfour speaking for
Great Britain, Kato for japan, Sem
ator Schanzer for Italy, BRAND for
France, rose praising In highest
terms the plans and program sug-
gested by the American government
and gave adherence OF their gov
crnments to the general terms Of
the proposals
Hughes thanked the represents
tives Of the powers for their cordial
expressions and declared that the
time had come to proceed with consi-
deration or the details OK the agree
ment.
The question now to be studied
Hughes said, is assurance that there
Will come out of the conference an
approval or agreement to end there
before an offensive naval war.
The British desire 10 discuss tha
figures OF the American naval re-
placement program as to submarines
was not a surprise 10 American nav
al Officers. Ii was expected that the
Japanese also will have something I'd
say on this point. At the same time
II may be said quite definitely that
the United States l. not prepared to
reduce below, 10000 tons the prop0r-
ton Of submarines she will he allow
cd 10 maintain in the proposed res.
friction. Fleets Of submarines enter
vitally into the American schemes
of naval defense Of her own great
coast lire.
AS insular powers both Great Bri-
tain and Japan are exposed 20 sub
marine operations 20 "a degree nos
true to the United States, officers
say. There Il little doubt among ma
val folk here that Great Britain IN
particular would welcome absolute
prohibition of submarine warfare. a.
70 the proportion Of submarines 70
capital ship strength Of limited fleets
proposed by the United States u may
DC said that the existing flotilla II
submarines in the American navy
is wholly composed Of purely coast
defense types
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