The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-12-02
What The Japs
Really Seek Is
Not MoreShips
BY DAVID GAw1RNcB.
tCopyr Eht by The lnteliissncSr)

Wash.ngton. Dec. Whats behind
the japanese reluctance 10 accept the
American figures nXlng the ratio OF
present naval strength on basis or
for Great Britain. fov tae United
States and FOR Japan:
This correspondent has had an oppor-
tGnity TO examine the correspondence
passing between Japenese and the
United states In the secret sessions
wchereln the American navy explains
IN detail the method by which the 5-1-3
ratio was hNcd. 1t Is an open and
shut case. The formula used takes
account. First. OF the japanese estimate
81 her own strength based upon the
tonnage figures she herself furnished
and a'So takes intn account every con-
teNtioH made BY the japanese and works
out hnaNy 10 4 $50 every time. II
is Z plain piece Of arithmetic and the
Quandary Of all who have had chance
10 learn how the American program was
worked out y what possible objection
;he japanese have 70 its acceptance
The conclusion being general reached.
parity from what the japanese them
se'N es are saying. and partly from the
hints they let fall IN the secret ses-
Sions j. that the japanese are getting
ready o. agree absolutely to the Amer
can Innate OF existing naval strength.
bet are Planning 70 condition their ac-
ceptanCe uron another agreement with
respect 70 for;itcationS and naval bases
In tho Pacific. This question has here
toso-s no; been raised by the japanese
IN the osaciai conferences. though In
tNe meetings with the press the Japan
e~e delegates &ave rmphahtZed the I'M
rrr,an,e OF fortihCations
As 70 Fort1heat tions
ths Introduction % the fertilization
problem. though OF course /: will hardly
Wish {" explore that controversial field
Ist', = definite understanding has been
reached on the basis or the original
hughes program concerning limitation
AMI reduction OF vessels anoat as we'll
Es under construction.
When fortifca;lons are considered. the
View o. the American delegation will be
found 70 be a most generous cne. The
japanese @nnot contend tha; the bases
% The C1!ted States n the Pacific are
c' any value. American naval experts
say. g.: the Hughes program OF reduced
s;reaKfh goes into effect. What tho
JapsneSe really wan: IS a promise that
TIE United states Will nce build up her
p-NSe1: So-I!fcatiCn< or add new bases.
THIS pledge probably would be forth
coming & refrigerated BY the japanese.
Proof Of Intentions
NaYa, bases bear distinct relation
ship - noval strength IL they are Suth-
c!ert.v near ;Ae scene Of possible naval
operations. II the United states we're
q conduct an offensive war against
Jaran the naval base at Cav:te. in the
Philippines would have 70 be much more
sTeCt:Ne. !: Is contended BY the Ameri-
can experts. than q Is at present. and
the very fact that 81 has not been re
enforced the Americans contend. IL
PROOF or tho pacific intentions % the
lHuNd Stltes. The fortihcatiOns of
Guam however. Is considered by Amer
la "a more ~ defense or Hawaii tina n
an outpost for ofrerSR. though. to be
sue. tive American view is that the
JaNansse themselves know how lttle
NsiI" are the present facilities at
Guam.
The t~ouh,e IS the japanese have not
vet made clear what /, - they do want
- the, agree. as seems Inevitable 70
the 5-5-3 ratio The American dele
ratcS have explained Of course that the
ia nance are not eager 20 take into ac-
count NcSsels under construction. Or
course n these are eliminated the So 5
ra TO would he disturbed. bat the Ameri-
ran contention is that a vessel on which
none has been Spent is to thar extent
rarr NJ country'S existing naval
strength
First the Jan naneSe conterded that pre-
dresdnauShts need not be excluded even
though more than 2n years old. Amer
ica'S experts Included them and san
came - q S-J-3 result, The representa-
lives - the Untied States went stlll FUR
thcr and included the "MutSu'' In the
Japanese estimate or her own strength
As y aar;ly completed vessel and still
reached a $50 conclusion.
Case OF the MutSu
The japanese for sentimental reasons
want n keep the "Mutsu" as she Is
ninrty-eiEht per cent complete. but the
United states has hattleship OF sim
llar strength also nearly completed and
the original proposal 20 scrap every
thing under construction still stands
Secretary Hughes Is arguing that IL once
the principle IS violated. the whole
structure Of the American proposals Is
broken down. He Insists that the yes
SclS under construction must be counted
IN any ratios and must be scra pped The
United states has spent 1890 900 o0o
'l-eady on ships in the process OF build
ing and the American delegation has
told tNc Ia paneSe that the public opinion
or this country would not rountenance
me loss Of such 7 large sum OF money
unless Japan was willing also to scrap
everything she was building In other
words. the sentimental fondncSs Of the
japanese FOR the "MutSu" is largely
rounterhalanced by sentimental fond
ness tor tho $3.50 O0o. 900 ALREADY sp.nt
by America.
The big issue = slowly emerging
however II IS no, the quarrel over
ratios OF existing strength but forth