The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1921-11-18
PLAN TO SCRAP SHIPS
AND REDUCE FLEETS
Secretary Hughes Throws Secret Dip.
lomacy to the Winds at Opening
Session

washington, NOV. L. ocrap youl
capital shops. Abandon your build
ing program"
Like the crack of whip came thi:
startling proposal today at the open
ing session. of the arms conference
from the American government to the
governments of Great Britain and
Japan It broke on the unprepareo
minds. of the statesmen from Lon,
don and Toxic like a flash Of light
ming from clear sky.
II found them unready to make re-
ply. They are still gasping and un:
able to respond officially tonight,
while the cables are burdened with
the most momentous news they have
carried since they bore to waiting
world three years ago the tidings that
the war was ended.
The American cards are on the ta-
ble-face up. They are being stu
died tonight in the capitals of the
world
America has shown her hand. She
proposes to do this:
1,-Scrap sixty-six capital ships,
tota1ing 1,S7S,043 tons-thirty from
America, nineteen from Britain, sew
enteen from Japan.
2.-Abandon all building programs
america to give up her 1915 pro-
gram, Japan to give up her "eight and
eight" program and Great Britain to
cease construction of four new super
Hoods.
3.-Enter upon 10 year holiday
with Great Britain and Japan dur
Ing which there will be 10 building.
4,-Keep the relative strengths as
they are at present-Great Britain
slightly in the lead, the United States
second, and japan trailing, bad
third. az
: 5.-Prohibit the size Of future bat
tieships, for replacement, to $4,000
tons.
6.LSet the limit of capital ships to
be retained at % for Great Britain,
Is for the United States, and 10 for
Japan.
Now World Leader
Thus, with one swift, daring stroke
did the United States today seize the
leadership Of the world from the
statesmen who sat about the green
covered table in Continental hall.
There, before the press of the world,
with tie American congress and hun
dredso of others looking on, did Secz
ffefary sof State Hughes bring forth a
pan which in the ordinary course of
diplomatic procedure would have been
discussed only with great secrecy be-
hind closed and guarded doors.
Il was without precedent. 1t was
open diplomacy with vengeance and
it caught the delegates of eight other
nations-only two Of whom are con-
concerned vitally-totally unprepar-
ed.
They were riveted in their seats.
Their eyes never left the tall, solid
figure of the American secretary of
state as he drove his points home with
vigorous gestures.
The British delegates, headed by
the veteran Right Hon. A. J: Balfour,
was has participated in every impor-
taht International conference for the
last half century, looked on with sur
prise plainly written IN their faces.
The Japanese, following nth more
difficulty the clipped accent of Secre-
tary Hughes, were, at first, more ex-
pressiorless. But as they comprehend
ed more and more the drift Of the
Hughes proposal, the oriental mask
slipped slightly and revealed astonish-
ment and perturbation.
The French and Italians. more vol
atile, were quick to show that they
seilsed the Importance of what was
going on. Ambassador Jusserand, the
only member Of the French delega-
tioh with a good working knowledge
Of English, Interpreted for BRAND
and Viviani as Hughes went along.
Acceptance Expected
Down at the end of the table, the
''little fellows s'-China, Belgium, Por-
tugal and the. Netherlands-showed
their intense interest. They sensed
that something was happening to the
Big Fellows"
The question that was being asked
in every embassy and legation, every
hotel lobby and even on the streets
Of the capital tonight is: 'Will Jap
an and Great Britain accept?"
The impression prevails that they
vill-Ibat the United States, by the