The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-11-28
JAP AN IS ID PRESS CLAIM FOR LARGER
 NAVAL PROPORTION
Hughes Proposal Will Again Take Center of Stage at Armament Farley. Eng
 land to Support Plan
By Associated Press

Washington, November 27.-With the question of land ornaments defi- nitely thrust into the background by the developments of the last week, the conference on limitation of armament will enter its third week tomorrow with another stride to- ward agreement on naval hmita- tions foreshadowed.
 The naval question, at least so far as its most vital element, the "5-5-3 ratio" of fleet strength between Great Britain, the United States and Japan is concerned, is approachinS the point of transfer back to the Dis five" committee with the report ot the naval experts on the facts in- volved. There is some expectation that a plenary session of the con- ference itself would be called during the week to reach first decisions on the naval limitation plan.
 Whether the experts of the three major naval powers will submit in- dividual reports is not known. There is nothing to indicate whether they are agreed as to the facts and fig ures they have been studying.
 Ship Data
 
 perts were represented as having concluded their examination or the mass of ship data involved in Secre- tary Hughes proposal. The Japa- nese naval group was still toiling on Saturday, it was said. Spokesmen for any group did not go beyond that estimate of the situation
 A summary of last weeks de-
 yelopments nx to the naval pro-
 H. k.Iu r...- statuss
 American officers see no req
 son in arguments advanced by Japan to warrant any change in the keystone of the agreement
 MT. Hughes proposed, the '5-5-3"
 naval strength ratio.
 British naval officials have
 accepted the ratio, although 1t
 means ultimate equalization of
 the American and British fleets
 in power.
 Japanese officers have opposed
 the American ratio, immediate or
 future, urging 10-1O-7 relative
 status instead.
 American naval opinion strongly opposes retention by Japan of the battleship Mutsu unless both other powers similarly and in due propor- ton enlaN6e their fleets to be re- tained during the 10year holiday building. There, are indications that some members of the American dele gation which will decide the Ameri- can attitude see strength in the argu- ments of Japan that the Mutsu might have been included as a completed ship In retained fleets There was nothing to indicate, however, that a compromise was being consider in the American group on this point.
 Mutsu Controversy
 British opinion as to the Mutsu controversy has been withheld. It has been indicated, however. that Great Britain was not desirous of undertaking any further naval con struction at this time, which seems to forecast agreement with the Amer ican view that the Mutsu should not be retained.
 Japanese officials have presented extensive tables of tonnage to sup port their claim that they are en- titled to retain the Mutsu without any similar retention by other powers.
 So far as the Mutsu is concerned. the Japanese have centended that she was a completed ship on Novem- Der H. The American and British ex- perts views on this point have not been revealed.
 The next step. when the three groups of experts have concluded their work. will be their report to the armaments committee. It seems likely that even if the British and American experts are found to be in accord as to the general accuracy of ! the original American conferees, the
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