The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-13
SECRETARY HUGHES
INTRODUCES A MOST
DRASTIC PROGRAM
Americas Proposition Is Laid
Y Before the Arms Conference
at the First Session.
MAKES PROPOSALS
TO SCRAP VESSELS
Would Reduce the Capital Ships
of United States, Great
Britain and Japan.
fny The AaaoeIated presal


WASHINGTON. Nov. 12--NIore
drastic and far reaching that the most
ardent advocate Of disarmament dared
70 hope. Americas proposals were
suddenly laid before the arms confer
ence today at its first session by Sec
retary Hughes.
A ten-year naval holiday is the pro-
posai IN short, and the United States,
Great Britain and Japan shall scrap
sixty-six capital ships aggregatinN l.
87S,o34 tons.
Within three months after tho con-
ciusion OF an agreement, the United
States would have 18 capital ships;
Great Britain %, and Japan 10. The
tonnage OF the three nations respec-
lively OF the three nations would un-
der such a plan be 500,650, 6O4. .450 and
2ge.700; Ships when twenty years old,
might be replaced under the plan, and
the replacement scheme IS 100000 tons
for the United states. 100000 tons for
Great Britain and 100000 tons for
Japan. No replacement ship could ex-
eeed $4,000 tons.
The United States would scrap 80
capital ships. aggregating S4s,73o tons,
Great britain 10. aggregating 5S3,s75
TONS and Japan ~ IL. aggregating
6as.o28 tons.
Tho figures include old ships to be
ncraped. ships building or for which
material has been assembled
characterized BY Baron Kato, the
chiof japanese delegate as very dras-
tic" but probably suitable as q basis
FOR discussion, and by Mr.. Balfour,
head OF the British delegation, os a
sstatesmanlise utterance, pregnant
with infinite possibilities and most
hopeful OF satisfactory results" the
American proposal. concrete and de-
tailed, fell on the opening moments of
the great conference like bombshell
The foreign delegates were stunned
No other word describes their feelings.
The principal features OF the Anlets-
can plan proposed;
That for not less than ten years,
competitive naval building cease es
between Great Britain, the United
states and Japan.
That all capital ships building or
planned be scrapped and a ew recent
iy placed IN the water be destroyed
within three months of ratlflca ton Of
the agreement.
THAT the older ships or each fleet
also be destroyed reducing the British
force to twenty two battleshrips. the
American to eighteen and the Japa-
nese TO ten Each ship to be- retained
being specifically named.
That during the agreement no capi-
tai craft be laid down ex7op. under
n detailed replacement scneme includ.
"a IN the proposal which would pro-
vide FOR ultimate equality Of the Brit
inh and American fleets and for
japanese force at sixty per cent OF the
strength of either Of the other two.
That all other naval craft be SINH
larry provided for in tae same ratio
specific figures for aggregate tonnage.
An each class being laid down
THE naval aircraft be disregarded in
the scaling down processes as a prob
lom incapable OF solution owing to the
oonvertibility Of commercial aircraft
Fpr war purposes.
That no naval building Of any char
Roter be undertaken in any Of the
three countries on foreign account
during tho life ot tho agreement,
That no capital ships hereafter laid
down exceed $4,000 tons
That the life OF a battleship shall DO
fixed at twenty years and that ships
70 be replaced be destroyed before the
replacement vessel IS more than three
months passed completion. THAT no
hatllship replacement whatever be I'm
dertaken Tor ten years from date Of
the agreement.
That no combat craft be acquired
except by construction and none be
Continued on PAGE Two)