Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-15
LIMITATION RATIO
IS STILL UNSETTLED
Naval Experts Present Revised
Schedule to big Three"
Chiefs.
py Associated Press 10 fsyery J;venjt,r

By Associated Press 10 Every Evening.
Washington. Dec. f5.--Alteruatel I
proposals relating 90 the 5-5-3 ratio
as worked out, apparently overnight, I
by naval experts. we're presented today
10 Secretary Hughes. Mr.. Balfour and 4
Baron Kato, which Indicated accord- I
ing 70 delegation spokosmen that no i
formal agreement had been reached by
the Big Three
The proposals, submitted as meanel
fof balancing the naval ratio 10 COM
pensate for the retention OF the Mutsu
| by Japan would permit Great Britain
TO build two super-Ifoods, scrapping
four old dreadnaughts and one battle
cruiser. Of the typo of the Tiger and
Repulse, or 20 build two battleghips Of
the Royal Sovereign class. scfapping
Of four drcadnaushts. but no battle
cruisers.
10 WIS stated that these aiterna-
tives arc combined with all sorts Of
questions. as TO the method Of calcu-
iating tonnage, whether by tho Ameri-
can or by the British or Japanese
systems.
The increase OF American tonnage
by $4,000 would admit the substitution
ot the upof-dreadnaUght Colorado
and Washington for The Older battIc-
ships Deiawara and North Dakota.
Japan in retaining the Mufsu would
scrap the Setsu.
The subs,antial effect of The adop-
ton of either Of these alternatives
would be 70 retain the naval ratio of
! 5-5-3. while admitting general in
crease OF tonnage all around
The British delegates were repre-
sentcd as indignant at the suggestion
they have been opposing the Japanese
: request for retention Of the aEfst.,f md
ncrcase Of tonnage for the rea son
that the British did not wish TO
:. build more ships
The spokesman also said settlement
{ of naval ratio. 50 far as Japan was
concerned, was involved with that OF
Qualifications In the Pacific.
80 far ss the question OF forti6ca-
ltions and works are concerned" he
added. "tne suggestion has been made
that these remain In status quo so
the works should not be proceeded
with either by the United States or
Japan. Both the United States and
Japan have had certain works in con-
temptation IN certain islands and the
suggestion IS that no further steps
should be taken along these lines No
formal decision has been arrived At on
that point although the discussion
has been proceeding on the assumption
that an arrangement would be pos
s!ble concerning American and Japa-
nese works in the Pacific.
Difficulties in considering this phase
Of the question. il was said. was with
special reference TO the British pro-
gram, necessitating the construction
by Great Britain Of two super Hoods
which would increase her tonnage al
lotment beyond the limit fixed in the
American proposal submitted TO the
arms conference at its opening ses-
sion.
1T should be pointed out a British
spokesman said, that under the ar
rangement respecting United States
Ships, the United States tonnage
would be increased 70 525, ,00o.f
Apparently the delay in reaching 4
settlement. it was said. was due ts
the necessity OF reconsiderins III,
various sets Of figures. Long dis.
cussions. are said to have taken place
at the meeting OF the Big Three foi
the purpose Of devising some plar
that would bring the British program
into line with the revised Japanes,
and American program and which
would at the same time keep The
British tonnage in proportionate limit.
as prescribed by Secretary Hughes.
Regardless of alternate proposals
the feeling especially in British circle,
that agreement on naval ratio wa
within reach was so strong that ;
spokesman Tor the delegation pre-
dicted a plenary session OF the con
n ference to consider the report Of thi
IS Big Three would be held Saturtla,
. or Monday.