Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1921-12-01
naval RATIOISSUE
MEASUREMENT
Another Limitation Step Fore
Swallowed in Farley.
JAPAR's EXPERTS lABoRING
British and American Naval Experts
Conclude Examination of Data, Is
Report.


washington. With the ques-
fion of land ornaments definitely
thrust into the background by the de-
velopments of the last week the con-
ference on limitation of ornaments en-
tered its third week with another strlde
toward agreement on naval limitations
foreshadowed.
The naval question, at least so far
as its most vital element, the "o-5-3
ratio" of fleet strength between Great
Britain. the United States and Japan
is concerned, is approaching the point
of transfer back to the "big five" COM
mittee with the report of the naval ex-'
perts on the facts involved. There is
some expectation plenary session OF
the conference itself will be called DUR
ing the week to reach irst decisions.
on the naval limitation plan.
Whether the experts of the three ma
Tor naval powers will submit individ-
ual reports is not known. There IS
nothing to indicate whether they are
agreed as to the facts and figures they
have been studying.
Both the British and American ex-
perts were reported as having conclud-
ed their examination of the mass of
shin data involved in Secretary Hughes
proposal The japanese naval group
was sfiil toiling, it was said, Spokes-
men for any group did not go beyond
that estimate of the situation.
a summary of asst weeks Develop
ments as to the naval proposals in
dicates the following status:
American officers have seen no rea-
son in arguments advanced by Japan
to warrant any change in the keystone
of the Hughes proposal the "5-5-3'
naval strength ratio.
British naval officials have accepted
that ratio. although 1t means ultimate
equalization of the American and Brit
ish fleets in power japanese officers
have opposed the American ratio, I'M
mediate or future, urging a 10-10-7
relative status instead
American naval opinion strongly op
{ poses retention by Japan of the battle
ship Mutsu unless both other powers
! similarly and in due proportion en-
large their fleets to be retained during
the l0-year holiday in building. There
are indications that some members of
the American delegation which Will
decide the American attitude see
strength in the arguments Of Japan
that the Mutsu might ave been in
Guided as a completed ship in the
retained fleets There vas nothing to
indicate a compromise was being con-
sidered in the American group on this
point.
British OPINION as to the Mutsu
controversy has been withheld. It has
been Indicated Greae Britain was not
DESTROYS of undertaking any further
naval construction at this time, which
seems to forecast agreement with the
American view that the Mutsn should
not be retained.
japanese officials have presented
extensive tables of tonnage TO support
their claim that they are entitled to
retain the NFutsu without any similar
retention by the ether powers. So far
as the Mutsu is concerned, the JeDan-
ese have contended that she was a
completed ship on November H. The
American and British expert views on
this point have not been revealed.
The next step, when the three
groups of experts have concluded their
work, viii be their report to thte arm
aments committee It seems likely
that even if the British and American
experts are found to be in accord as
to the general accuracy of the original
American figures the Japanese naval
officers will submit differing conclu-
sions.
1t will then become the task of the
''big five" committee to seek an agree
ment on report to be made at
plenary session of the arms conference
itself How long that would take. it
was difficult to foreshadow