Arizona republican., 1921-11-30
AMERICA WILL NOT MODIFY ARMAMENT
 LIMITATION RATIO
Statistics On Existing NauaI Strength or Biz Three Accepted By British And American Experts Challenge Japanese Demands For Increase In Ratio Of Ship Tonnage
Republican A. p. Leased WIre1

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2a-Tbe purpose of the American arms dele gation to accept no modification of Secretary Hughes proposed five five-three" ratio of naval strenrtl, as the fundamental basis of any linn ltation agreement was authoritative iy reiterated today. The statement Was backed by disclosure of the facts as to existing naval strength.
 This showed Japan to have less than the 50 per cent status to whjcg, the "5-53" plan would entitIe her It showed also that the American delegates had been over the whole field and that their figures were cor rect.
 Meanwhile. Prince Tokugaya of Japan declared that, the statement yesterday of Vice Admiral Kato of the Japanese advisory staff, contend Ing for a 70 per cent status for Ja- pan, was based on personal opinion.v It was not. he said, sponsored by the delegation of which Vice. Admiral Kato is not a member.
 The prince would not reveal. how ever, the actual view of the Japan ese delegates as to what percentage Japan would insist upon in fleet strength He said the four delegates were determining this for themselves, independently of any additional fn- structions from Tokio.
 While these developments indf- cated still more strongly that a de- cision of this fundamental question was drawing near, the arms confer ence marked time. A further meet ting of the naval experts of the United States and Japan, scheduled for today. was postponed for 24 hours at the request of the Japanese.
 At Japanese headquarters it was said further time to examine figures s submitted by the Americans was needed.
 Experts Meet Today
 In any case the naval experts of the three powers chiefly concerned are to meet tomorrow in further sub ! commission deliberations
 The British experts have accepted the accuracy of the original Ameri- can fleet estimates. The Japanese | have been able to produce no figures competent to challenge successfully | the American showing.
 There were hints that a plenary session of the conference might be l called next week This could not be confirmed It is known. however, that when that meeting is called il. W -41 AACeAAA N4AeAA ~tAC dCACetAlt1 atC pre- l pairing to reach a decision There is no present expectation that the fundamental question of the
 '5-5-3" ratio or any other major point will be worked out at the plen- ary session. Officials closest to the negotiations expect that informal meetings between the delegates will l bring about the ultimate agreement | by personal touch. It will then be translated into conference action It is no secret that the American group expects Japan to accept the "5-5-3" ratio. It is also clear that the United States will not accept any enlargement of the status offer l ed Japan. That was clear to the most casual observers after the American delegates. except Senator 1 Underwood, who could not be pres ent, again talked over the naval situ- afion today in Secretary Hughes 1 office.
 The American group has no doubt that American public opinion fully
 supports the 5-5-3 ratio. It was made l clear that if the question of national
 security brought up by Vice Admiral
 Kato were considered. ratio of even 10 to in capital ship strength as to Japan would not adequately express American or British needs.
 It was for that reason that the