The New York herald., 1921-11-24
COMPROMISE LIKELY
ON NAVAL DETAILS
Completion of Battleships I'm
der Construction as Con-
cession to Japan.
TO SCRAP OLDER SHIPS
TO SCRAP OLDER SHIPS
Balfour and Baron
KatO Will Draft Final
Agreement of Powers.
Special Despatch to THE NEW YoaK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.

Washington. ID. c., Nov. e3.
The "five-five-three" ratio as the
standard for the navies of the United
States. Great Britain and Japan as
proposed originally by the American
delegation is expected to prevail in
the final analysis, but 1t is probable
there will be a different lineup of ships.
It has become far more than a possi-
bility that some Of the battleships now
under construction may be retained
while some OF the older ones be
scrapped.
The situation is one by which the
United States might complete the con-
struction Of two or perhaps three
Of the battlesh!ps now building and
which Secretary Hughes proposed to
scrap. In such an event they would
be in all probability the battleships
Colorado and Washington and possi-
bly, the West Virginia 1t would fol-
low, then, that the United States, to
make the tonnage the same as orig
inally proposed. would scrap some OF
the other battleships. like the North
Dakota, the Delaware, the Utah aid
the Florida.
Concession TO Japan.
The possibility of such an arrange
ment being worked out in the en-
comes throuh the insistence of the Jap.
anese that they be allowed to retain
the battleship Mutsu. which Secretary
Hughes proposed that they scrap. Mr..
Hughes's informs tion had been that
the Mutsu was not in commission.
merely launched. The Japanese have
said the Mutsu was In commission, hav-
ing steamed more than 5000 miles al
ready.
SO far as the delegates are con-
cerned the naval programme for the
present is at standstil. the only work
on 1t being done by the naval experts
of the three nations involved The
delegates themselves are depending on
the experts to work out the details
which they will take up when the time
comes for a final settlement.
The delegates who will prepare the
Anal draft of the agreement will be
subcommittee composed of Secretary
Hughes for the United States, Arthur
J. Balfour for Great Britain and Ad-
miral Baron Kato for Japan. In view.
however. Of the fact that they will act
largely upon the recommendations OF
their technical advisers the direction In
which they are working at this time
Is significant.
The experts have come to the firm
belief that there is no longer any ques-
tion about an agreement-accepting the
situation now as one merely of detail
To this end they are collecting all man
ner of data about ships of the various
navies, with regard to tonnage, gun
capacity. speed and other technical con-
siderations.
Ratio Remains Unchanged.
The British authorities are said TO be
giving their support to tho American
position that Japans ratio should be
60 per cent. of eaci, OF the two chief
naval Powers. That has led TO q situa-
tion where the naval authorities believe
there no longer Is any question about
ratio and would give to the United
States 100000 tons of capital ships,
Great Britain 100000 tons and japan
100000 tons.
The Japanese stand for 10 per cent
increase was based on the desire TO
retain the Mutsu. but the American
answer to that has been that this may
be done II an equal tonnage of older
ships be scrapped and II the United
States is allowed to do the same with
newer ships.
The last report of the bureau OF con-
struction and repair OF the Navy De-
partment dated November 10. shows that
the Colorado. which Is building at the
New York Shipbuiiding Corporation. Is
So per cent. complete. The battleship
Washington. building at the same yard.
is 69s per cent complete. The battle
ship West Virginia. building at the New
port News Shipbuilding and Dry Docks
Company. is 81 per cent. complete.
These battleships. which are OF $4,000
tons each, are about twice the size OF
the older battleships OF the American
fleet. The North Dakota. for instance.
Ia ten years old the Delaware II the
same age. Each Of these ships Is Of 2o.-
600 tons displacement. The Utah and
the Florida. which are about the same
age. are each OF $4,000 tons displace-
ment. n they were to be scrapped for