The New York herald., 1921-12-31

amendment to make the liability bind
ing on all commanders when the rules
had been accepted as international law.
Mr.. Root said the point was important
but open to question, and Chairman
Hughes again suggested deferment OF
discussion and brought up instead the
resolution proposing limitation of auxil-
iary craft to 10000 tons and eight inch
guns.
Admiral Baron Kato gave the accept
ance of japan of this proposal He
pointed out. however. that unless the
question of limitations as to large.
speedy merchantmen was worked out
the auxiliary ship resolution will re-
main meaningless"
Chairman Hughes said as he under
stood the resolution the 10000 ton linn
itation applied to all but three classes
OF warships, capital craft. airplane car
riers and ships now existing. He pro-
posed the following rearransement of
the wording of the resolution, which
was accepted:
mo ship Of war hereafter built, other
than O capital ship or airplane carrier,
shall exceed a total tonnage of displace-
ment of 10000 tons. and no gun shall be
carried by any ship Of war hereafter,
other than a capital ship. with caliber
in excess OF eight inches
The question of regulations for con-
verting merchantmen into auxiliary
warships, Mr.. Hughes said, would be
brought up later.
Italy Asks Higher Ratio.
The chairman then restated the origi-
nal American proposal that tonnage of
aircraft carriers as between Great Brit
ain. the United States and Japan be
limited TO $1,000 tons aggregate for the
first two Powers and $4,000 for Japan.
III also recalled the other stipulations
a- D carriers In the original project and
the subsequent American proposal to
limit the size of carriers to 1900 tons.
This tonnage apportionment, Mr.
Hughes said. was in accordance with
the "five-five-three" capital ship ratio,
and II that were carried out for Italy
and France 1t would mean 2S,00O tons
for each.
Admiral Acton. for the italian group.
said that under the 2s.000 ton limitation
Italy could build but one carrier while
Italy felt that Der circumstances re-
quired two of these craft. or double the
tonnage, $4,000 aggr egate
Lord Lee said this italian claim was
difficult to resist. He added that the
British navy now had five carriers. in
Guiding four experimental types Four
of the fiev were obsolete, and the Brit
ish navy desired the right to scrap ex-
perimental ships at any moment. Lord
Lee said. He added that the aggregate
tonnage proposal OF the United States
seemed Inadequate" in view of all
circumstances, including the fact that
no agreement to limit submarine tom
mage was I'm sight.
Admiral lie Bon said he did not see
THAT any country had definite views''
concerning the type of carrier TO he
reached, but that in the present case a
5000 ton size limitation seemed reason
able. France felt she needed two such
carriers in European waters and a third
for colonial possessions. he added. which
would mean an aggregate of rs. 600 tons
under a 5000 ton size limitation. bu.
would compromise on 60.00O tons ana
build ships accordingly as a voluntary
matter.
Admiral Baron Kato said $4,000 tons
aggregate would allow Japan only one
and half airplane carriers. which
would not be sufficient for protectjvn
purposes. She desired three carriers no
ADDED, and suggested $1,000 tons aa the
Japanese aggregate, saying he would. of
course. raise no objection to n propor-
tlonate increase for the United Statas
and Great Britain.
Carrier Plans Affirmed.