The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-15
BIC THREE QUITS
KatO, Hughes and BalfOur Hold
Their Final Meeting.
All Terms of Naval Reduction
Are Agreed UpOns
HUGHES PLAN IS MODIFIED
Increased Tonnage of Capital
Ships To Be Allowed.
Announcement of Final Terms
Is Being Withheld.
HUGHES PLAN IS MODIFIED

Washington, Dec. ia final and
complete agreement on the naval linn
itation program was reached at today's
secret meeting of the conference of
the big three-Hughes, Balfour and
Kato-according to all indications at
the close of the session. No official
announcement, however, was forth
coming.
Balfour and Kato were obviously in
good spirits when they left the office
of Secretary of State Hughes. Any an
nouncement. they said, would have to
come from the secretary of state.
when are the big three going to
meet again?'' Balfour was asked.
This three are not going to meet
again." he replied.
Modify Hughes's Plan.
Two alternative proposals in this
respect were before the big three" it
was understood. One was that Great
Britain will construct two new super
Hoods and scrap four old dread
naughts and one cruiser. The other
was that Great Britain will construct
two new ships of the Royal Sovereign
class and scrap four old dread
naughts.
This shift from the original Hughes
program would add about $4,000 tons
to Americas gross tonnage, making it
total 525, 900 instead of the originally
proposed 100000 tons, according to
British figuring.
Plans for a meeting later today of
the new naval committee of fifteen
representing all five of the naval
powers were made after the conclu-
sion of the session of the big three. 1t
of the agreement on naval matters
between Great Britain, the United
States and Japan would be made dur
ing the afternoon.
Open Session Tomorrow.
The expectation prevails that a
plenary session will be held tomorrow
or Saturday. The drafting of the
naval treaty itself is an undertaking
of no small proportions because of
the mass of technical data that must
go into it. The draughtsmen of the
three powers are already engaged
upon it, while the big three" puts
the finishing touches on the general
agreement
The 5-5-S ratio stands, as originally
proposed, but there has been a re-
alignment of the ships that will COM
prise the navies of the three great
powers. The exact shifts that have
been agreed upon have not been Off
cially made known but it is accepted
that Japan has won her unremitting
fight to retain the battleship Mutsu
and the United States and Great
Britain will retain commensurate ton
mage to offset the concession. The
changes agreed upon, however, do not
affect the basic ratio of 5-5-3.
Hughes Wants Delay.
Secretary of State Hughes wants to
delay the announcement of terms un-
til there is full and complete agree
ment down to the last detail so that
TIE whole controversial question can
be cleared up at one sitting.
While the character of the other
changes agreed upon is withheld for
the the being, it is believed that an
nouncement of the settlement of the
naval ratio will be coupled with a
st. tement of policy concerning Pa
cific Notifications, particularly a
maintenance of the status quo, each
of the powers agreeing not to place
additional fortifications in their Pa
cific holdings.
There also may be some slight modi-
fication of the replacement program
originally suggested. Both Great Brit
ain and Japan would welcome modi-
fication in this respect in order to in
sure the continued operation of their
shipyards and the employment OF
thousands of workmen.
No session was scheduled today for
the Far Eastern committee which ad
journed yesterday subject to the call
of Chairman Hughes, after China had
requested that the treaties resulting
be abrogated. and considerati ton of the
to by the japanese delegates.
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