Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-12-15
Agreement
Reached on
Navy Ratio
Big Three Reported in Full
Accord on Limitation
Plan-AlI Major
Issues Settled.
Japan to Retain Mutsu

Washington, Dec, l4.-Gfeat
Britain. the United States aud Japan
we're in full accord tonight as to
principles on plan OF naval limita-
lion.
All major questions have been
whipped into shape. Technical de-
tails as to one phase held back an
official announcement.
The plan worked out by Scere-
tary Hughes. "A. ]. Balfour and Adj
miral Baron kato i'll joint confer
cnces. follows the original American
proposal except i'll one respect. Tha.
difference is the agreement that
Japan may retain the battleship,
Mutsu, that the United States retain
The Colorado and Washington in
place OF the Delaware and North Da-
kota, and that Great Britain build
the approximate equivalent in capital
ships.
Agree AS to Policy.
PRONUNCIATION OF the agreement has
been delayed by arranging details as
10 the British equivalent for the
Mutsu. The "big three" are in
agreement as to policy.
II appears that the British angle
might be settled by providing that it
retain two superior Hoods and scrap
three or more old ships in their
places. That element OF the plan was
still to be finally decided, however,
when the "big three meeting today
adjourned. Further meetings are ex-
pected.
Ii was emphasized the three con-
ferees are eager to reach full accord
and that no minor technical oblec-
ton would be allowed to stand in
the way.
Open to Objections.
Should a proposal that Great Brit
ain retain two superior Hoods OF tile
four it had ordered be advanced and
found acceptable, it would be taken
in naval circles as evidence OF the
good relationship established during
the conference. The plan is open, it
is said, to technical objections, since
the ships would be of a type not in
cludcd i'll the Japan or American
navies. They would combine batteries
Of battleships and have speed of bat
tie cruisers, but sacrifice something
in armor as compared to battleships.
The superior Hoods also would be
beyond the replacement limit of 35,-
900 tons displacement proposed in
the America plan. That figure dealt
with replacement building, however,
and not with ships under construc-
ton, each of the three powers hav-
ing a number of 10000 tonners in
prospect. Since Great Britain has al
ready spent money on the plans and
specifications of the ships, it seemed
improbable that proposal for their
retention would meet objections i'll
American circles, at least. The at
titude OF Japanese delegates was not
known.
Other Features Approved.
Included in the treaty into which
the naval limitation agreement is to
be worked, will be the establishment
Of status quo. understanding as to
naval bases and fortihcations on the
Pacific. This feature. already has
been approved by the big three"
It means that the United States
abandons any thought Of creating a
naval base at Guam, but excludes
from the restrictions to be imposed
by treaty Hawaii, islands off the
coast of Japan OF those in waters
Immediately adjacent to Australia or
New Zealand.
In effect, the naval trio are in
agreement that none but purely de-
fensive outposts shall hereafter be
erected in the Pacific.