Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-11-19
U. 5. Will SCRAP
JAP BID. F 0 R
EXTRA TONNAGE
Hughes Ratio CLIO for
Warships Believed
Fair One
To Concede Additional Ship
Asked Would Upset Whole
Plan-Big Nine Meet Again
Today to Discuss Far East
Problem


Japan's request for an increase in
the proportional strength of her
navy may lead speedily to some
plain talk across the council table
of the arms conference.
The American delegation stands
ready to dispute stubbornly any ma
tcrial change from the ratio set forth
in the American plan. That ratio, it
was emphasized by highest authori-
ties today reflects existing proper
! tional strength and so cannot be al
tered without upsetting a fundamen-
! tai principle of the whole plan.
In effect, the American figures
would give Japan six fighting ships
to every ten owned by the United
States and every ten owned by Great
Britain. The Japanese have limited
but never formally, announced, that
they want seven to ten. The naval
experts of the United States really
believe that five to ten is nearer the
proper allotment. Great Britain has
; accepted the six to ten plan in prin-
cple, but her spokesman have been
silent about then wa japanese pro-
posals
If it turns out that the Slightly
greater naval force suggested for
Japan by Admiral Baron kato only
amounts to the addition of one battle
cruiser to the japanese figures, then
the emphatic objections Of the
American delegates may not be
deemed necessary. But if the sug-
gestion comprehends n real change
in proportion it is declared on auth
GRITTY that a determined diplomatic
struggle will result.
The clear delineation of the Ameri-
can position on this subject served to
turn attention again to naval arma :
ments today while the Far Eastern
negotiations were at a stand still to
permit the powers to work out de-
ills of their policy. Neither the con-
terence nor any of its committees
/ met during the day, but the nine
delegations will assemble tomorrow
in executive session to resume their
discussions of the Far East
coincident with the disclosure of
the American viewpoint on naval re-
ductions it was revealed today that
the administration does not propose
70 limit the armament agreement, if
! there is one, to the nations repre-
sfnted in the Washington conference.
Whether a treaty or simply an "un-
Outstanding" would come out of the
negotiations, administration officials
would not predict, but it was said
that whatever the form of agree
ment. the other interested nations
would be asked to participate.
should no treaty requiring senate
confirmation result, it was said to be
the belief of the administration that
the whole armament reduction pro-
gram could be put through without
congressional action. International
understandings" of policy do not re-
quire the approval of congress and
officials say the proposed scrapping
Of warships could be accomplished
under general authority already pos
seSsed by the executive.
There was every indication tonight
that all the powers would go into to-
morrow's Far Eastern conference
| fully prepared to express their views
on the plan presented as basis of
discussion by China. During the two
day recess the foreign delegations
Continued on PAGE 3-CoI. q