The Washington herald., 1921-11-14
FOREIGN EXPERTS
STUDY PROPOSALS
FOR CUT in NAVIES
Joint Committees Work
On Future Program
- Of Conference.

~~W
Continued from Page One.
as yet to learn whether that reply
WIN be a definite one. either swal-
lowing the entire plan or an an
nouncement that while the delega-
ton accepts in principle it has OBJ
jeetfons to the exact figures laid
down by Chairman Hughes and is
prepared to submit amendments.
Awaits Tokyo Adviees.
The Japanese delegation has been
In communication with Tokyo ever
since the adjournment on Saturday.
It.bas officially stated here that 1T
accepted the Hughes plan in prin-
ciple and that the Hughes plan af-
forded a basis for negotiations.
That up to the present Is as far as
the Japanese have gone. OF course
the dele CATION holds plenary pow
ers. But the assassination of Pre-
mier Hara and the formation of
the new cabinet has made II very
essential that there be complete
harmony between the delegation
here and the new premier and cabi-
net in Tokyo. So it is assured that
every move made here in Washing
ton will be approved in the Nippon
ese capital.
The Japanese delegates specific
ally have asked their naval experts
for their views on the application
Nof the Hughes proposal to the large
Japanese merchant fleet. Practi-
cally every Japanese merchantmen
that has gone into commission since
1914 was laid down with the idea
~ Nr eel ~ l. ~
war feet as an auxiliary IN the
event of the nation becoming in
volved in conflict.
Consider Merchant ships.
n he proposal Mr.. Hughes an
neunces that regulations must be
provided to cover the conversion
merchant craft for war pur-
poses." should such regulation as
contemplated by the American dele
gates to be of a nature that might
-. hamper the merchant fleet, natur-
ally Japan would oppose it. But
even in such an event II was indi-
Gated at Japanese delegation head
quarters yesterday the opposition
wotld be extremely friendly and
take the form OF suggestions for
Modification rather than for elm
instion-
Fhe British delegates continue
tofrefrain from making any public
advancement OF their plans. Their
experts have been hammering away
ons the Hughes proposals analysing
than from every angle. They will
bebready to present a complete re-
port to the British delegation to-
d1t, Mr.. Balfour will preside over
thu meeting of the British dele
gales today and he Is expected 10
urge than an agreement be reached
sS7that Great Britain can state its
position when the conference is re-
sunied-
[. confers with Lloyd George.
Cables have been exchanged be-
tween the members OF the mission
and the British ministry in London
and Mr.. Balfour knows exactly the
opinion of Premier Lloyd George
on this subject. The British dele
CATION enjoy plenary powers. but OF
cburse Lloyd George had intended
all along to sit as its chairman,
SO the other members here are
utilizing the cables to keep him In
tooch with their views and to
learn his at first hand
Al the headquarters of the Brit
ish officials II was said they had
very little doubt" that when the
session meets tomorrow Mr.. Bal
four will have a very specific state
naent to make concerning the Brit
ish position. IL was IN this con-
n.ection that the intimation was
conveyed that the British had their
own plan ready to be voiced by
Lord Lee. had they been requested
to furnish a positive basis of limi
tAtion of naval armament.
similar to 4. =. Proposals.
this proposal, 1t was understood,
was not very far at variance with
the American limitation 50 far as
relative strength of navies to be
retained was concerned. On the
question of auxiliaries and the ma
Vial holiday proposal, no one was
able to say whether there was a
sharp variance with the Hughes
suggestion. IL was assumed, how
eyer that there was.
Ten years. naval experts with
the British quietly pointed out.
was a long time to keep a skilled
Industry idle. II there are TO be
no requirements OF ships for 120
months then the highly trained ex-
perts that have been keeping navy
Yards efficient will drift into other
lines of endeavor. This would
mean that should the ten-year
period be accepted and then a re-
newal of the agreement prove i'm
possible every nation would be
hard pressed to re-establish the
Industry of building battleships.
May Oner Amendment.
1T was intimated that because of
the realization of this fact the
Rrftfsh might have suggestions to
offer that would amend this par
tPcuiar portion of the Hughes sus-
gestions. This, however, would be
a,detail such as the Americans ex-
pected. The Hughes plan after all.
was designed as a basis for nego-
tietfon and suggestions of changes
OF course were to be expected
American officials in Washington
were, last night interested in the
suggested criticism from certain
quarters that the Hughes proposals
provided too great a surrender by
the United States. The naval ex-
parts who furnished the figures upon
which the American delegation pre-
drted Its plaa IT limitations in
sikted that this was without war
rant They pointed out that the
relative strength OF the navies of
the three powers involved remains
about the same.
Equitable Deal Is Claim.
Some nations are inclined to draw
frbm the lessons of the great war
deduction that battle cruisers OF
great speed are the best fighting
craft Others go in for the slower
but very powerful battleship. But