Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-11-14
NAVY HOLIDAY PLAN
OF u. S. STUDIED BY
FOREIGN EXPERTS
Delegates Still Shocked by
Hughes Proposal for Re-
duction of Fleets.
BRITAIN AND JAPAN
GUARDED IN COMMENT
See More Than Ten ear Hol.
iday in Agreement to
Limit War Craft. 5
TO DISCUSS PROCEDURE TODAY
American Advisory Committee OF
Twenty-one VIII Begin
Active Duties.
BRITAIN AND JAPAN
GUARDED IN COMMENT
TO DISCUSS PROCEDURE TODAY
American Advisory Committee OF
Twenty-one Will Begin
Active Duties.
IBY Associated pnn.s !

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13.-Delegates
to the arms conference had not re-
covered today from the shock of Sec
retary Hughes blunt presentation
yesterday OF the proposal for imme-
date reduction of the fleets of Great
britain, tho United States and Japan.
ana Tor n ten-ycar naval holiday.
Inc concrete terms OF tho American
plan. laid before the opening session
OF the Conference of Limitation of
Armaments were still in the hands
OF the naval experts OF the other
Two powers chiefly concerned.
Plan begins to stand Out.
PENDING their conclusions, no fur
ther step is probable. The spokesmen
here for Britain and Japan had moth
ing to add to their previous guarded
comments on Mr.. Hughes sugges-
lions. AS far as they went. those
statements were encouragina. and
IL was certain nt least that no nos
sibility OF fiat rejection of the plan
existed. Without doubt 1t Will form
the basis for reaching whatever CON
ciusions tho conference brings forth.
with further time for study by;
interested officials OF all nations. tho
American plan began to stand out
today In its true proportions. An
parently 1t Is far moro than a ten
year naval holiday that Is projected.
coupled with immediate heavy reduc.s
k lon OF the fleets OF tho three powers.g
Ley oudr that ia third equally blum
and direct suggestion for continuing
agreement to limit the size of, hAttis
fleets permanently. That is what Mr..
Hughes naval replacement plan
really amounts to.
In naming the chips to which each
main battle fleet would be cut Ie the
American plan for immediate reduce
tion was accepted, Secretary Hughes
statement shows that Great Britain
and tho United States would be. on
an exact equality In the number of
battleships. but the British would re-
tain In addition, four battle cruisers
The proposed Japanese fleet would
be composed of six battleships and
-FOUR battle cruisers, while the United
States would be content with battle.
ships alone.
May Prove Significant.
This may provo Significant as the
discussion proceeds. some naval Of
ncers pelieVe. 1t appears probable
that in proposing to agree that both
OF tho island powers should be pro-
vided In; equal number with those
newest additions to the main fleets oe
nations. while the United States made
no attempt for ten years at least
to equip the American A. similarly.
the American delegation to the arms
conference sought to convey a very
definite assurance that America, as
President Harding told the conferees.
came to the discussion with no selfish
purpose to serve. SCI
Relinquishment by the United
States OF any battle cruiser element
In her fleet. some officers said, at
once indicated clearly that the navy
was not being maintained with the
deliberate idea that 1t might some
day become advisable to raid the
sea commerce OF the two insular
powers or either of them. Battle
cruisers would be invaluable; 4per-
haps vital to successful prosecution
of naval war across the Pacific. it
was said.
In the proposal the other two pow
ers retain battle cruiser s1uadrons,
Continued on Page Z. Col 49,