Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-11-20
BY HENRY w. BUM.


~ HE following is brief summary of the
most important news of the world for
the seven days ended November 10:
THE CONFERENCE.-THE confer
ence on limitation of armament opened
the 18th. President Harding made speech
of welcome. Mr.. Balfour nominated Secretary
Hughes for permanent chairman. and he was
so acclaimed. Mr.. Hughes made a speech which
astounded and no less delighted the world; for
effect other speech is to be compared with
it. He proposed for the three great naval
powers a ten-year holiday in capital ship con-
struction, abandonment of their shipbuilding
programs, scrappinS of large number of
shRS quilt or aa9 ana ,b, hea eod 81
sustain suitable relation to the capital ship
ing the naval holiday of ten years 10 consider
their future course" He sketched his plan
In outline only. referring to a detailed proposal
drawn up by American naval experts and ready
for submission to the delegates
The following are the most striking features
of the detailed proposal:
Within three months from signed agree
the United e states ali capital Ships built A or
building. of the three powers. except certain
remsn e Britain
ships. total tonnage 60445o: to the United
States. eighteen capital ships total tonnage
mage sssSoo. WI ''S''' N'0' ''
The tonnage basis for capital ship replace
For the United States, 100000 tons. For
Great Britain. 100000 tons. For Japan 100000
At the end of ten years tsubject to the
above maximums) capital ships twenty years
old may be replaced. The tonnage displace
ment of replacement ships is limited to IS 600
Total tonnage allowances for cruisers.
fiotia leaders and destroyers to be: For the
United States, $4,000 tons: for Great Britain,
$4,000 tons: for Japan. 10000 tons
Total tonnage allowance of submarines to
be: For the United States, 10000 tons: for
Great Britain 10000 tons; for Japan. $4,000
tons.
Total tonnage allowance of airplane
riers to be- For the United States $4,000 tons:
for Great Britain. 10000 tons; for Japan $4,000
tons.
But tonnage of the above classes of
auxiliary craft existent November IL, 1921. in
be scrapped, and vessels of these classes whose
keels were laid down by November II. 1921.
may be completed. And If, in any case. with
the keels laid down the total tonnage is short
of the standard maximum construction is per-
mitted up to that maximum. requirements,
are allowed (subject. of course. to the above
old of destroyers. fotilla leaders and sub
marines. when twelve years old; of atrplane
carriers. when twenty years old.
las the importance of the merchant marine
is in inverse ratio to the size of naval arma-
ments. reguiations must be provided to govern
The very great Importance of this matter is
obvious.
owing the fact that naval aircraft may
mercial aircraft. it is not considered practical
to prescribe limits for naval aircraft" Since.
in the view of many of the most competent
naval experts the battleshp has been rendered
obsolete by aircraft carrying bombs and poison
gas). since the future of naval warfare Is
h IN the ar 1T s ts to be
lit is on the agendal to the devising Of means
to rid the world of poison gas and bombs
without which aircraft would be comparatively
The British and Japanese delegates have