Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-15
IBRITISHOBJECT
TO new Ships
TOOFFSE'T JApS
japanese Desire to Retain
Mutsu Delays Naval
Limits Agreement
FOUR TREATIES ON
Big Three Keep Program Moving
American Experts Sympathize With
Jap Desires.

! Limitation OF naval armaments
officially will be settled by the arma-
ment conference, in session here, in
the very near future.
Highest officia! authority for this
announcement was Forthcoming last
| night.
There is now only one hitch. Japan,
as The Herald has explained, has ac-
cepted the Hughes naval ratio as a
fact. From now on all negotiations
will be with that definitely under
stood.
The 5-5-3 ratio for capital ships
is assured. Japan wants to keep
the Mutsu, completed, and the kaga,
launched, as integral parts of her
navy. She willingly will scrap ton
mage and gun power from the bottom
Of the Hughes list to meet this request.
At the same time she will agree to
the United States retaining commen-
surate capital craft, HOW building,
and would authorize Great Britain to
construct two Hood-type fighting
vessels to bring her list OF modern
sea monsters up to the ratio Of the
other two countries.
But there is rather serious hitch.
Great Britain has no desire to build
her two Hoods. They cost too much.
This is the real reason why negotla-
lions are prolonged.
Secretary Hughes desires very sin
ccrcly To have his colleagues of the
Big Three" Admiral Baron kato
and Mr.. Balfour, united on the COM
parative points as well as or prin-
ciples. So soon as this is possible,
and last night best informed members
Of tie conference, saggc.fr>1 ! mat the
agreement is after all matter OF
hours" then the representatives OF
the United States, Great Britain,
Japan, France and Italy will get to-
gether as members OF the enlarged
naval committee and adjust all other
outstanding matters. A plcnary scs-
sion will follow, and public approval
will be given by the delegates to all
shat has been arranged in secret.
1t was stated last night that there
will develop, as Il result of the con-
ference, four treaties that will be sub
mittcd 20 the senate by President
Harding. They are:
The four-powcr Pacific pact.
The naval ratio treaty, including
limitation Of naval armaments by the
five powers, the United States, Great
Britain, Japan, France and Italy.
The zap treaty, guaranteeing the
United States rights Of communica-
ton, cable and wireless, in that far
off Pacific Island.
A ninc-powcr treaty. guarantee
ing China's integrity and indcpcnd-
cnce.
According to Senator Lodge, the
first of these treaties to reach the
senate will be that dealing with the
naval ratio and its allied subjects.
The British delegation, taking the
initiative following yesterday after
moons meeting Of the Big Three"
communicated to the French and
Italian delegations the British view
point as to what their ratio should
consist Of. An agreement on this
presages an early p!cnary session on
this subject
Late yesterday the big Three"
were in session Leaving, all smiled
happily, but said that it was impos-
siblc to make any public announce
ment at this time.
Previously, in order to clear the
decks for completion Of the naval
program, the scheduled meeting of the
committee on Pacific and Far East
crn affairs adjourned almost as soon
as it got together. Chairman Hughes
told the delegates that in his opinion,
and in that Of other members Of the
committee, there was danger that
matters would get out Of hand if too
much business was initiated. He
suggested that the japanese and
Chinese delegations had their hands
full in negotiating a settlement Of the
Shantune situation He explained
that the naval negotiations now had
reached Il point where action was
necessary. The Big Three" had their
program moving fast and it was de-
sirabc that they attend to the de-
vclopmcnts under that head before
taking up additional questions. BY
doing this discussion Of the "twenty-
one" demands Was avoided. The en-
largcd naval committee. which prob
ably will 90 down into history as the
big Fifteen" or some such desgna-
| ton, was anxious to get busy and
/ Mr.. Hughes was very willing that it
be afforded an opportunity to do so.
Roanokc--From reports secured
! from the office Of the city manager
| Roanoke is on the eve of another
building boom. A number OF new
| houses are planned for the city, and
nermits we're given for the erection