Arizona republican., 1921-12-03

as the years bring development in
shipbuiIding lines generally.
Many Obstacles
Other officers see too many OBJ
stacles to such a modification to
warrant its adoption. 1t is pointed
out that Japan has three ships in adj
dition to the Mutsu now building and
the United States Is to be scrapped.
Twelve of the American Is, however.
and two of the Japanese are beyond
the $4,000 ton capacity ship maxi
mum, the limit proposed. They must
be scrapped in any event. That
would leave the United States with
the Colorado. Washington and West
Virginia af1oat and running close to
90 per cent complete on its hands
and Japan with the Mutsu, should
that vessel finally be excluded from
the retained fleet. and one other well
advanced toward completion.
If these ships were put in cold
storage" until they could be brought
the ratioed fleets, it was argued
there wo' d be no value to naval en-
cheering or the shipbuilding art in
the modification of the 10-year holt
dav plan. The work is already done
and there would be virtually no cap
ital shipbuilding in Japan and the
United States during the 10year
period 1t is not to be expected, it
was said, that other nations could
scrap these new and unused ships
and then begin building practical du-
plicates to keep up shipbuilding. The
situation is wholly different with
Great Britain. She has no capital
ships actually under construction and
could begin replacement at once, 1t
was pointed out, on modification OF
the holiday plan. 1t would be year
before actual construction work be-
gan, however, while plans were pre-
pared for a ship within the $4,000
| tons limit.
That brings up the question in the
| minds OF experts as to how much inn
proved in type the new British ship
would be as compared to the Ameri-
can Maryland class and the Japanese
Mutsu class.
In view of all the considerations
some officers believe it would be
wiser to return to the Hughes plan of
cutting off all building for a decade.
Unofficial japanese accompanying
the delegation put forward the sug-
eestion that ii Japan were permitted
| to retain the Mdtsu and the Ameri-
can government agreed not to further
fortify its Pacific bases, the Japanese
| fleet would have in effect a rating of
65 or SIS per cent instead of the 60
per cent allowed by the American
proposals.
Supporting this view. insomuch as
| it relates TO Notifications, came this
! authoritative outline of Japanese po-
sition from a more official source;
"In Japanese minds strong fortifi-
! cations near the home soil give cause
! for anxiety because the Japanese
people want to know the reasons. To
/ them they are closely connected with
| national defense, just as is the ques-
| ton of definite understanding con-
/ corning the Far East between the
| United States, japan and Great Brit
ain"
There were no expressions from
| the authorized spokesman of any
| group to indicate how far these views
represented tie results of todays pro-
| ceedings; ali delegation leaders stood
firm son the official announcement
| that mo comment can be made at this
| time"
/ 1t was pointed out by official Jap.
! arlese. that whatever may have been
| proposed at todays meeting had to
/ be referred to Toxic because Japanese
delegates dc nos have plentipoten-
tiary powers and because Toxic would
I need TO consider the situation as it
| may affect the existing ministry.
4 + The whole development, however
was represented by delegation spokes-
men as justifying optimism. One other
than the Japanese characterized the
situation as most favorable" and
added that today's conference was one
of the most important held.
In behalf of the Japanese a fur
Their point was emphasized in thi:
way
Japan has no intention to wreck
the conference. At the same time ia
pan must satisfy the demands o
the empire that the national defense
shall be adequate. The problem is Il
harmonic these two issues and It IL
the problem Immediately confronting
Admiral Kato. Japan is striving t
settle the naval ratio question on thu
basis of considerations of nationa
defense alone. There is no desire o.
intention TO bargain on the question
or to seem to b giving UP the posi-
or to seem to be giving UP the posi-
advantage elsewhere
Indications are that the next move
may not become apparent for da!
or two. While the Japanese are com
municating with Toxic some of tn
British delegates are leaving the cit!
for the week end.