The daily times., 1921-11-08
(By David Lawrence.
Copyright, 1921, by The Daily

Times)
Washington. Nov 7-America' s
program for limitation of naval arm
ament has been practically agreed
upon. The details remain to be shap-
ed-the fundamentals are clear They
are:
First, For every naval item given
up by the United States there shall
be an equivalent given up by other
naval powers.
Second. the present ratio of naval
strength shall be maintained in the
sense that the United States shall not
be placed in weaker position toward
other powers than she is at the pres
ent
Third, the British having accepted
the principle of equality with the
United States, the disparity in
strength between the two navies
shall at least not be increased
Fourth, the phrase Limitation of
armament" is held to mean that all
the nations shall be permitted to
finish the building programs which
hey have already authorized Re
duction of armament" is held to
mean that vessels still in commission
but growing obsolete shall be scrap
ped and the tax burden reduced
by an agreement not to replace these
oh; l. ~; 4
the expense of keeping up old vessals
Fifth. a definite understanding by
|all powers as to exactly what is
meant by the term replacement
with respect to vessels now in first
class condition but which may even
tually become inferior in value tC
new types of naval craft which may
be designed in the future.
Sixth, in considering naVa
strength. there shall be included mer
chant marine and all auxiliary yes
into warships in an emergency a!
well as all bases fortified and unforti
] fled which could be used in naval Op
erations In reducing armament ex
pense, it is essential to consider thu
millions of dollars which are spen
annually to maintain naval bases ant
repair stations at remote points
This question is most acute i'll con
nection with a possible naval Conflic
| in the Pacific where bases are quit
| as important as the number of nava
vessels available for theoretica
WAR
The foregoing principles, as work
led out by our naval experts, hav
been given to the American delega
ton consisting of Secretary Hughes
Senators Lodge and Underwood an
| former Senator Root. They are basl
Ideas but, of course, no single pla
can be drawn up which will tax
i care of all contingencies. It is up t
1.-The four members of the America
delegation to determine just how ia
leach principle can be applied. 6 Tn
Navy is really presenting alternativ
plans. One play man De preO1c.e0 o
la diplomatic settlement of certai
disputes in the Far East. Ancthe
plan may be predicated on an ;:bso
lutte agreement with reference to fort
: LEGATIONS. The Navy is furnishing a
: it's ideas to the American deleSatio
$ Irelying upon the latter to use thos
: principles as the discussion develop
: Thus far it would seem IS if tt
; naval men would like to see limit;
ton carried out literally by crmi
ting the completion of existing pr
grams but many of them realize th'
+ this will not satisfy American publ
+ opinion which has hoped the confe
8 ence would not merely bring abo
> an equilibrium as between navies b
> which would actually reduce the a
lnual expense. Reduction of arm
> ment involuntarily becomes the o
(Cont1nued on page 81