The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1921-11-18

directly back of their delegations
behind the American section wer,
draped the flags Of the nine nations
Senator Lodge was the first or tn
American delegation to arrive. H.
walked about the room meeting mem
bers Of the American advisory com
mlttees. There was scattering o
gold lace in the galleries.
BRAND Drops Silk Hat
AS the French delegates reached
the main entrance there was some
thing Of jam. Premier BRAND
edging his way through, dropped hi!
silk hat. Attendants quickly made ;
way for him to get in.
Military and naval attaches appear
ed In full dress uniforms, making I
show of plumes and spangles such a.
Washington has not seen since thu
war. Almost all the others were II
conventional dress Of the diplomatic
service.
Vice President Coolidge and Mrs
Coolidge and Speaker Gillett of TIT
house, and Mrs. Gnlett, occupied ;
box to the right rear Of the American
delegation.
Americas Concrete Proposed
Americas concrete proposal foI
hnAIoIaoh VI naval al Adhi0AeS
crux of the arms CONFERENCE.-The
presented today by Secretar,
Hughes at the very opening Of thu
first session. Briefly. 1t is as fol
lows:
A naval holiday. in which al
building programs should be aban.
doned and the older ships of presen
| navies scrapped, was the keynote o.
the American proposal. Mr.. Hughe:
laid down four general principles:
"1.-That all capital ship building
program, either actual or projected
should be abandoned.
THAT further reduction should be
made through the scraping Of certain
of the older ships.
"3.-That in general, regard should
be had to the existing naval strength
OF the powers concerned.
"4IThat the capital ship tonnage
should be used as the measurements
fof strength for navies and q proper
ionate allowance of auxiliary com
blatant craft prescribed"
The Replacement Program
For the United States the program
would scrap all capital ships under
construction, fifteen in number and
fifteen OF the older battleships.
Great Britain would stop construc-
hood type and scrap all her second
and first line hattleships up to the
King George v class.
AS a replacement program. the
American government proposed that
no more ships be laid down for the
next ten years, and that a maximum
replacement tonnage figure be fxed
providing eventually for 100000 tons
for the United States, 100000 tons
for Great Britain and 100000 tons
for japan.
A proviso also would be included
permitting replacement Of capital
old and prohibiting construction OF
any ship built in replacement with a
tonnage of more than $4,000 tons.
The text Of the proposals as It's de-
tails concern three leading naval
powers, IL as follows:
Completing 1916 Program.
The United States is now complet-
ing its program of 1916 calling for
ten new battleships and six battle
cruisers. One battleship has been
completed. The others are in vari-
GUS stages Of construction; In some
cases from so to 80 per cent Of the
construction has been done. On these
fifteen capital ships now being built
over $3.50. 900. 900 have been spent.
Still the United States is willing. ia
tation OF naval armaments, to scrap
all these ships. The United States
proposes, IL this plan is accepted
"One.-To scrap all capital ships
now under construction. This in
cludes six battle cruisers and seven
battleships on the ways and In the
course OF building, and two battle
ships launched. The total number
of new capital ships thus to be
strapped is fifteen. The total tom
mage Of the new capital ships when
completed woul dbe 61s.000 tons.
Two. To scrap all of the older
battleships up to, but not including
the Delaware and North Dakota.
to be scrapped Is Is. Their total
tonnage is 227.7fo tons. Thus the
number of capital ships to be scrap
ped by the United tSates If this plan
is accepted is thirty with an aggre-
gate tonnage (including that Of ships
in construction, If completely Of
845, TAO tons.
Proposal For Great Britain.
Great Britain: The plan con-
templates that Great Britain and ia
pan shall take action which is fairly
commensurate with this action on
the part of the United States. 1t is
proposed that Great Britain:
"(I-Shall stop further construc-
ton of the four new Hoods, the new
capital ship not laid down, but upon
which money has been spent. The
four ships, II completed, would have
tonnage displacement of $4,000
tons.
"One.-Shall, in addition, scrap her
pre- -dreadnaughts, second line bat
Neships, and first line battlehshfps,
up to but not including the King
King George v class. These, with
certain pre- dreadnoughts which 1t Is
understood have already been scrap.
ped, would amount to nineteen capt.
tai ships and tonnage reduction Of
411.275 tons.
"The total tonnage of ships thus
to be scrapped by Great Britain Gin
Guiding the tonnage of the four
Hoods, (if completely would be $685.
375 TONS"
Proposals For Japan
1t Is proposed that Japan:
sonez SHAH abandon her pro-
gram Of ships not yet laid down, Viz:
The XII, Dwarf, No. z, and No. 8,
en- and eight battle cruisers 1t
should be observed that this does
not involve the stopping Of construc-
ton. as the construction of none of
these ships has been begun.
"Two.-Shall scrap three capital
cbipc (tho Mutcu laAucbod tho