, 1921-11-09

United States shall not be placed IN
a weaker position toward other pow
ers than she Is at the moment.
Third. the British having accepted
the principle of equality with h
United States, the dlsparsity in
strength between the two navies
shall. at least, not be increased.
Fourth, the phrase ''limitation of
armament" is held to mean h a all
tho nations shall be permitted to I'm
fish the building programs which they
have already authorized .
Reduction of armament" is held
to mean tina vessels still In commits
sion, but growing obsolete. shall be
scrapped and tho tax burdens re-
duced by an agreement not to re-
place these ships. but to economize
by eliminating the expense Of keep
ing the old vessel.
Fifth. a definite understanding by
all powers as to exactly what is
meant by the term replacement"
with respect to, vessels now in first
class condition but which may event
ually become inferior in value to new
types OF naval craft which may be
designed In the future.
Slxtn, IN COuSlutIlHB HdNaA
strength, there shall be included mer-
chant marine and all auxiliary YES
sells which can possibly be convert
d into warships in an emergency ms
veil as all bases fortified and unforti-
led which could be used in naval OPP
.rations. In reducing armament ex-
,ense. It is essential to consider the
billions of dollars which are spent
--.r hasAz and
-epair stations at remote points. This
question is most cut in connection
with n possible naval conflict in the
Pacific where bases are quite as I'M
portant as the number Of naval yes
sells available for q theoretical en-
The foregoing principles. as worked
out by our naval experts. have been
given to the American delegation
of Secretary Hughes, SEN
ators Lodge and Underwood. and
Former Senator Root. They are ba-
sic ideas, but of course no single plan
can be drawn up which will take care
Of all contingencies. 1t is up to the
members OF the American dele
to determine just how far each
principle can be applied. The navy
Is really DIt6tulllt aAbtA PAHAAo
One plan may be p~redicated on a
settlement Of certain dis
putes in the far east. Another plan
may be p~redicated on an absolute
with reference to fortihca-
tons. The navy is furnishing all its
to the American delegates. re-
lying upon the latter to. use those
as the discussion develops.
nt..- - IA --,.,ll rnavp oa sc fhH
naval men would like to see limita-
ton carried out literally by permit
ting the completion of existing pro-
grams but many of them realize that
will not satisfy American public
opinion which has hoped h confer
ence would not merely bring about
equilibrium as between navies but
which would actually reduce the IN
nual expense. Reduction of arma-
involuntarily becomes the OBJ
and the real problem OF the
naval expert is to evolve a plan
will reduce expenses by elm
mating the ~superf1uous parts OF a
navy without altering its main fight
ing strength
When the American program, how
ever, is finally developed after the
discussions have already begun, 1t
would not be surprising to see the
American delegation feel its way to-
ward further reductions of expense
eve presenting proposals for radical
cutting OF naval programs now I'M
der construction. This is al this time
merely. conjecture. The American
delegation is preparing a moderate
program to lay before the conference.
eventually to modify and still
reduce expense. The navy
considers its function to
keep the american delegation advised
to how far the navy can be re-
duced consistent with domestic