Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-08
ACCEPTANCEOF
NAVAL RATIO
THOUGHT Sure
Japan Requires u. S. to Stop
Fortifying Pacific
Bases
ENJOYS JUBILANT
Congress Likely to Look Closely Into
Question Of U. S. Sacrifices of
FOrtiiications

Official announcement that Japan
has agreed to the American naval
ratio is expected at any moment.
Conference circles last night ac-
cepted this as an absolute certainty.
Officially it was declared in Japa-
nese. British and American dele
gaton circles that there has been no
change in the situation. However,
there was an air of jubilation in
American circles that indicated
that the uncertainty has passed.
japanese officials continued bland
and imperturbabe. They insisted
that they were waiting for advices
from Tokyo. No statement was pos
sible, they insisted, until these mes
sages came.
However. it was considered Ger.
tan that the Japanese already had
been informally notified that the
cabinet and the diplomatic advisory
conference, which met in Tokyo ON
Tuesday, had directly authorized
Admiral Baron Togo to accept the
United States naval ratio on capital
ships of 10-l0-6, to be condition.
ed on the United States announcing
that it would not add to it's fortified
bases in the Pacific and that the
proposed transformation Of Guam in
to an impregnable stronghold would
not take place.
Until complete information of the
cabinet position is received, how
ever, the Japanese will have moth
ing official to say.
Just what other conditions ac-
company the tender is not yet
known. Secretary of State Hughes
positively has declined to enlighten
the public on the offer that he laia
before Admiral Baron Kato last
Friday night. Tokyo and London
have said that new pact will be
proposed to replace the Anglo-Japa-
nese treaty and to provide for the
entente cordiale in the Pacific.
These dispatches have hinted that
France might be a party to the
agreement. But, so far as an Off
cial American statement on the SUBJ
ject is concerned, there has been
no information made public tina,
would even indicate that the subject
has been under discussion.
British conference circles last
night said that there would be such
pact. 1t was emphasized that it
would not be treaty and that it
would not have to be submitted to
the Senate for ratification. In gen.
eral terms it was described as
"gentleman's agreement" that would
be proclaimed by each of the ma
tions affected by it and would depend
for enforcement on the moral con.
science of the various peoples. Or,
as one diplomat described it: ''It
will prove among nations what al
ways has been considered true
among gentlemen, that an honor
able mans word is as good as his
bond"
However, there was very decided
interest felt in just what is to be
done to assuage the japanese spirit ?
disgruntled because of the sugges-
ton that their nation has been
forced to agree to compact that
places her in the position of an in
terror nation-interior in naval
strength not alone to her ally.
Great Britain, but to the United
States.
japanese who would discuss the
general outline of the case, pointed
out that if the United States would
agree that it would hereafter fail
to forify any possessions lying
nearer to Japan than to the west
coast of America, and that it
would stop fortifying Guam and
Corregidor, then the japanese gov
ernment would be able to tell its
people that in assuming an inferior
position among the naval powers
of the world its own great interests
would be so sageguarded that in
reality it's sacrifice was compensated
very fully. In this connection it
was pointed out with Guam fortified
and the necessity arisen for its cap
turc, it would take a fleet of capital
ships to reduce the defenses. The
experiences at Gsllipoli proved this
in every way.
AS IOF the detdllS ol tie SuS6ca1
cd Pacific agreement there was no
information forthcoming. The Japa.
nese officials stated that they had
been asked not to discuss the matter
until an afficial statement had been
made by the United States. They in
dicated that they felt certain that
such an agreement, when fully
evolved, will not only be an efficient
substitute for the Anglo-Japsnese
treaty but that it will insure an un-
broken relationship between the
three leading powers of the world
for many years to come. In effect.
they believe it will provide for pro-
lection of all interests in the Pa