The New York herald., 1921-12-14

Japan's eagerness to save the bat
tleship Mutsu from the scrap heap
when the 5-5-3 naval ratio is put into
force served as the subject for a long
discussion to-day by Secretary Hughes,
Arthur J. Balfour and Admiral Baron
Kato, but the question included so
many technical details that further
conferences will have to be held be-
fore there is settlement.
The line upon which the Big Three
delegates are working is possible
readjustment In the capital ship pro-
gramme as applied to vessels, although
the ratio and the approximate ton
mage of the different nations may re-
main the same.
Both the American and British
navies will be allowed, if this scheme
is adopted, to add vessels of a type
corresponding to the Mutsu. cutting
off, as Japan will do, other craft origi-
nally included for retention In the
Hughes programme.
Advisers Are Summoned.
The possibility that the United States
will be allowed to retain one or more
battleships of the Colorado class, per-
haps the Colorado and the West Vir-
ginia, developed when Assistant Secre-
tary Roosevelt and Admirals Coontz and
Pratt were called into the conference.
They will. 1t is expected, participate in
the session when it Is resumed to-mor-
row.
The whole matter is now one of tech
meal details, since the issue of ratio Is
completely settled on the 5-5-3 basis.
The progress that the conferees have
been making in the matter led to the
| general belief that a formal announce
ment viii be made some time during
the present week. With the ec2pital ship
programme definitely settleS for the
| United States, Great Britai:: end Japan,
then the remainder of the naval agree
ment, particularly as II applies to
France and Italy. can be adjusted.
The position that France and Italy
will hold in the naval agreement occu-
pied much attention to-day. but the i'm
preston prevailed that IL would be ad-
| justed without trouble. The American
technical experts had before them a vast
amount OF data that had been submitted
| by the French and Italian naval ex-
| perts for use In establishing this ratio.
| Both France and Italy are In slightly
different position from the United
| States, Great Britain and Japan. with
regard to the size Of their navies, be-
cause the outbreak of the war in 1914
brought n halt to their naval pro-
| grammes. Conditions compelled France
and italy to baandon navy building, sc
! that their attention could be directed to
! land armaments.
Contrary Effect ON other Navics.
| The war, at the same time. gave i'm
| petus to the navics OF the United States
Great Britain and Japan. this feature
| OF the war, from the allied standpoint
| being left almost entirely in their hands
The French and Italian delegations are
preparing to present this as part Of their
case In asking for ratio that Is larger
than that which might be expected to
be granted from the figures Of their
present naval strength.
The latest figures available for the
conference show that Frances navy Is
credited with a total of 100000 tons
while ItaIy's is credited with a total OF
| 294.000 tons. Each navy is smaller thar
that of Japan, which has total OF
| 900 tons.
In capital ships. according to the
| latest figures, France has only 16S,00C
| tons. while Italy has 12l 900 tons The
| situation Is better understood when Il Is
| recalled that the 5-5-3 programme calls
| for an ultimate tonnage OF 100000
each for the United States and Grea,
Britain and 100000 for Japan. 1t 4
! evident, therefore. that II France and
Italy did not scrap any capital ships al
! all, simply retaining what they have
| they would come far below Japan In the
ratio.
Both France and Italy, however, want
to be on a par with Japan in the agree.
ment. with an allowance of an eoua
number of capital ships---around 300 ,00C
tons. France II more concerned about
this than Italy, but Italy will insist or
the same figure as that allowed tc
France.
Special Allowance Probable.
II is regarded probable that special
allowance will be made In view Of ali
the circumstances, and that France and
Italy will be set down for a ration in
advance of their present strength. Too
great an increase. however. VIII meet
| the opposition of Great Britain, which
Is considering naturally. the possibility
of a combination of these two European
navies.
Whilc there are all sorts OF sugges-
| tions as TO the ratio that ultimately
Will be proposed the most general idea
WIN be proposed. the most general idea
! the programme on "2-2" basis. makfnr
the Iine-up for the five nations. there
fore. 5-5-3-2-2. There was considerable
doubt as to whether the ratio would be
very much increased over this figure.
although in some quarters 1t was be-
| lieved the ration TO be proposed would
he 10-10-6-5-5 This probably would
meet the British objection to n COM
bined strength OF France and Italy to a
point In excess Of the British strength,
Just Row the proposal with regard
10 F'rarce and Italy is TO be made 10
the delegates Of these nations. has not
been announced. but It was thought the
negotiations would be handled, In the
| FIRST instance, by Secretary Hughes
acting Independently Of the delegates OF
Great Britain and Japan 1t Ia not un-
likely that Secretary Hughes. when the
proper time arrives. will make a definite
proposal to France and italy. asking
them a. fix their ratios in proportion 10
that Of the United States, as set In tho
asreemont with Great Britain and
japan.