Evening star., 1921-11-18
SHIP RATIO MAY BE FIXED.
Action Of England Believed Result
of Decision Here.
BY the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
Action of the British government.
announced from London today, in or
dering work stopped on the four cap
itaI ships of the Hood type. the only
capital .shipbuilding program on
which the British have been engaged
since the armistice, came as no sur
prise here. There was much doubt,
even before the conference on limita-
ton of armament was called by
President Harding, that the British
would complete these ships. Their
status as to construction on most
American tabulations has been car
ried as doubtful"
In any case, deliberations of the
technical commission headed by As
sistant Secretary Roosevelt and in
Guiding highest naval officers of the
five powers represented in the con-
ference appear to have reached a
point where the capital ship ratio
may be considered settled, SO far as
the British and American fleets are
that Great Britain retain eighteen
battleships and four battle cruisers
and the United States eighteen
battleshfps seems to have been &C
cepted by the experts, which implies
final acceptance by the conference it,
self of that element of the program.
The British admiralty order stopping
work on the four new ships is only
an added straw to show which way
the wind is blowing.
Japan's Ratio Under Debate.
1. is not clear. however. that the ex-
perts have as yet reached conclu-
sion as to Japan's fleet strength.
Formal announcement yesterday by
Admiral Baron Kato. head of the
Japanese group, that Japan desired
more than the go per cent ratio in
allowed
der the American proposal was taken
as meaning that this is the point now
being debated by the five admirals of
the subcommittee and their staffs.
1t has been said that the Japanese
desired a fleet ratio to British or
American strength of 70 instead of so
per cent. Baron kato did not disclose
the actual figures. saying merely that
he sought a slight increase in pro-
portional strength. There is no doubt
can naval opinion as a modification Of
one of the four general principles"
laid down by Secretary Hughes as
those applied by the American delega-
tion in shaping reduction and limi-
tation proposal upon an entirely rea-
sonable and practicable basis, to the
end that the just interests of all shall
be adequately guarded and that ma
tional security and defense shall be
maintained"
The third general proposition stated
That, in general, regard should be
had to the existing naval strength of
the powers concerned"
Proposal Considered Liberal
This has application to the Japanese
proposed modification as to tonnage
ratio. 1t is said. inasmuch as Japan
does not now posses even the so per
cent ratio allowed under the Ameri-
can proposals.
If the concrete terms of the Japanese
counter proposal deal only with her
desire to retain the new superdread-
naught Mutsu, just commissioned, and
If that figures into slight" increase
in general tonnage, it is possible an
adjustment could be reached by re-
casting the list Of specific ships laid
down by Mr.. Hughes as those to be
retained by each power in the pro-
tected immediate reduction of existing
forces II the Japanese claim is for
an actual higher ratio Of naval power,
however. and there is some indication
that it is, the question will be more
difficult of treatment.
There is no doubt that American
naval opinion regards the original
proposal Of 60 per cent for Japan as
extremely liberal in view of Japan's
place in the roll Of nations, viewed
from her economic or other interests
as compared with those Of Great
Britain or the United States.
Another Point at Issue.
The plain fact Of the matter seems
to be in the judgment Of those Ameri-
can officers who will express opinions
that khAy feel japan IL not entitled
TO such q naval force as might per-
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