The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-30

Meanwhile Prince TOkugawa of
the Japanese delegation declared
TINT the statement yesterday of
Vice Admiral Kato of the Japa-
neSe advisory staff, contending
for 30 per cent status for Japan
WINS based on personal opinion"
alone. IL WIS not, the prince said.
sponsored by the delegation of
which Vice Admiral Kato is not
member.
Prince Tokugawa would not reveal.
however, the actual view of the Japa-
nese delegates as to what percentages
Japan would insist upon in fleet
strength. He said the four delegates
were determining this for themselves.
Independently of any additional in
structions from Toxic. He would not
say whether a decision actually had
been reached as yet
Decision Drawing Near
While these developments indicated
still more strongly that decision OF
this fundamental question was draw
Ing near, the arms conference itself
marked time. A further meeting of
the naval experts OF the United States
and Japan, scheduled for today, was
postponed for "a hours at the request
of the Japanese. The Americans werc
not informed as to the reason for this
postponement At Japanese head
quarters it was said further time to
examine figures supplied by the
Americans was needed.
In any case, the naval experts of
the three powers chiefly concerned
are scheduled to meet tomorrow in
further subcommittee deliberations.
Their work cannot deal with any
major factor in the American naval
plan. however, for today's revelations
showed that these constitute a closed
chapter of proceedings.
British Accepted
The British experts have fully ac-
cepted the accuracy of the riginal
American fleet estimates. The Japa
nese have been able to produce no
figures competent to challenge sue
cessfully the American showing.
There were hints that a plenisry
session of the arms conference might
be called next week. This could not
be confirmed In any authoritative
quarter. 1t is known, however, that
when that meeting is called. it will
mean that the delegates are prepar-
ing to reach decision.
There is no present expectation that
the fundamental question of the
IS -5-3" ratio or any other major point
will he work ed out at the spieniary
session. Officials closest TO the dele
cations expect that informal meet
ings between the various delegates
will bring about the ultimate agree
ment by personal touch. II will then
be translated into conference action.
1t IL no secret that the Amer
lean group expects Japan to ac-
cent the "5-5-3- ratio. Ii In also
equally clear that the United
States will not accept any en-
Iargement of the status offered to
Japan. That Is clear to the most
casual observer after the Ameri-
can delegates, with the exception
of Senator Underwood. who could
not be present, again talked over
the naval situation today In Sec
rotary Hughes office. Mr..
Hughes, Senator Lodge. Mr.. Root
and Senator Underwood arc
known to be of one mind on this,
and to be backed by the full APP
prevail of President Harding and
all administrative officers.
The American group has no doubt
that American public opinion fully
supports the "5-5-3" ratio 1t was
made clear today that IL the question
of national security brought up by
Vice Admiral Kato were considered,
a ratio of even 10 to in capital ship
strength as to Japan would not ade-
quately express American needs or
British needs. 1t was for that reason
that the American plan discarded any
attempt to calculate fleet ratios in
terms Of national needs. There was
no way from that standpoint. it was
said authoritatively, to give japan
proportion of more than so per cent
of the strength of any other power.
Gave japan Large Ratio
So, 1t was added, the scheme OF
calculating in capital ship tonnage.
the present existing strength of each
of the three major navies and cutting
off further building by agreement
was worked out Then to induce an
agreement, a percentage for japan ex-
ceeding her existing strength was Of
fered by the United tSates. and that
was so per cent.
The basic principle of the plan
Is to 'sstop where you are,r 1t was
asserted on authority of the
American group that worked 1t out.
Japanese claims for 20 per cent
ratio were characterized AS every
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