Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-16

EOtiatlOnS Tor Far Eastern Setue-
ments were at a standstill except for
the separate Chinese-Japanese dis
cussion of Shantung. A settlement
between the two groups is not yet in
sight and no date has been set for
resumption Of other Far Eastern
conversations.
In consolidating the status quo"
agreements as to Notifications in the
projected naval limitations treaty,
separate consideration. of that mat
ter has been avoided with resultant
saving of time.
The revised three power naval
agreement, in addition to overcoming
the most difficult stumbling block In
the pathway of the conference.-the
relative strength of the American
and Japanese f1eets-has saved three
huge new uperdreadnaught from
thescrap heap. They are the Japan
ese Mutsu and the American, Colo
RADIO and Washington, ships of the
same post Jutland" design, en-
bodying lessons of the World War.
Provision also is made for two
new British post Jutland" ships TO
be laid down at once and does not
otherwise modify the 1O-year holt
day in naval building.
In place of the Mutsu. japan will
scrap the old dreadnaught Setsu and
will do no capital shipbuilding there
after for 10 years. In place OF the
Colorado and Washington, the United
States will scrap the North Dakota
ba n
ships are finished few months hence.
When Great Britain completes her two
new $4,000 tonners, about three years
hence, she will send to the scrap heap
four old dreadnaughts that played
part in the great war. They are the
King George Y, the Ajax and the Cen
turian, all of the same type. and the
wartime completed Erin. sister snip
to the Queen Elizabeth.
One other change in the original
American proposal IS made under The
revised plan. The maximum tonnage
displacement of future capital ships is
fixed at 81, 600 tons, American measure
ment, instead of $4,000 tons. 1t is un-
dcrstood this change was made to met
the British practice of equippiCg CAPT
tai ships with anti-submarine coat
"blistcrs' evolved during the war.
These outside air compartments along
the ships hull add to the ships wei ght
It is understood also that Great Bril-
tains election of the two new F1t-ic-
ships program was the last step neces-
sary in reaching the three-power I'M
Outstanding. The alternative was Brit
>ish construction of two $4,000 ton su-
perhoods, a type of vessel rot now
existing and which neither American
nor japanese naval>opinion favored III
the program for fleet reduction.
Great stress was laid tonight by
official Spokesman on the fact that
conferees of the three powers had
met throughout the negotiations IN
the most conciliatory spirit and had
exhibited every desire to deal fairly
with each other in arriving at a naval
understanding, realization by Amer
lean and British officials Of the strong
element OF national pride which
prompted Japan to ask retention of
the Mutsu, was said to have gone a
long way toward the successful nego-
tiation of the understanding.
1t was plainly indicated that the
American. British and japanese menu
lers of the committee of Is We're
strongly hopeful that @ similar spirit
OF accommodation and understanding
would be encountered In threslring
cut the places of France and Italy in
the new naval scheme of things. Dis
cuasion of that phase of the problem
has been impossible, it has been re-
peatedly pointed out officially, pend
ing the three power understanding.
The question of naval ratios for
France and Italy naturally takes pre-
ccdcDcc over other naval matters
still to be determined. Beyond it lie,
however the problems of submarines,
which Great Britain will raise as an
issue of world naval policy: appor-
tionmcnt of air craft carrier tonnage
in which Japan has indicated an in
tense interest; determination of
methods for scrapping GS capital
ships of the three powers, aggregat-
ing 1,861,643 tons: proportionate al
loWanccs for other auxiliary craft;
decision as TO limitation of merchant,
men for war use and other less i'm
portant clements of the limitation
plan.
Apparently the decade naval Holt
day is settled issue, so far as the
three major powers are able to de-
termine it. Necessity Tor continuing
some capital building for eco
nomic and engineering reasons was
one of the first objections advanced
in British circles to the original
American proposal, The announce
ment TO the committee OF 10 said in
that connection:
1.-The naval holiday of 10 years with
respect to capital ships, as originally
proposed by the American govern
ment, is to be maintained except for
permission to construct ships as
above stated
This was construed as meaning
that Great Britain's necessities with
relation to tapcring off in naval con-
Struction work rather than hating
all construction abruptly had been
met through the addition of two new
upcrdreadnaughts.
Despite the fact that the American
battleships Colorado and Washing
nouncement as to be retained under
the new plan, the Washington may
yet be sent to the scrap heap or
otherwise disposed of. 1t was indi-
Gated strongly today that further eX-