The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-11-23
JAPAN
DEMANDS
BIGGER NAVY
Proposal To Amend
Hughes Plan Fol.
Limitation Of Naval
Strength Starts De-
bate

w dSnlnSLON, NOV. 10 (6y the AS
sociated Press).-Japan's reouesr
for an increase in the proportional
strength Of her navy may lead
speedily to some plain talk across
the council table of the arms con-
ference.
The American delegation stands
ready to dispute stubbornly any
material change from the ratio set
forth in the American plan. That
ratio it was emphazied by highest
authorities today reflects existing
proportional strength and so can
not be altered without upsettins
a fundamental principle Of The
whole plan.
In effect. the American figures
would give japan six fighting ships
to every ten owned by the United
States and every ten owned by
Great Britain. The Japanese have
limited but never formally annonu-
ced, that they wart seven to ten.
The naval experts Of the United
States really believe that fi1e to
ten is nearer the proper allotment.
Great Bratain has accepted the SIX
to fen in principle. but her Spokes-
men have been silent ato.tt the
new Japanese proposals.
If it turns out that the slightly
greater" naval force suggested for
Japan by Admiral Baron Kato only
amounts to the addition Of one bat
tie cruiser to the japanese figures
then emphatic objections Of the
American delegates may not be
deemed necessary. But if the sug-
gestion comprehends real change
in proportion it is declared on au-
thority that a determined diplo-
matte struggle will. result.
The clear deiineation of the
American position on this subject
served to turn attention again to
naval armaments today while the
Far Eastern negotiations were a.
standstill to permit the powers
to work out details Of their policy.
Neither the conference nor any Of
it's committee met during TIE day
but the nine delegations will assem-
BILE tomorrow in executive sessions
to resume their discussions Of the
Far East.
Coincident with the disclosure Of
the American view point on naval
reduction it was revealed today
that the administration does not
propose to limit the armament
agreement, if there is one, to the
nations represented in the Wash
ington conference. Whether a
treaty or simply an understanding
would come out of the negotiations
administration officials would not
predict, but it was said that what
ever the form Of agreement the
other interested nations would be
asked to participate.
Should no treaty requiring SEN
ate confirmation result, it vas said
to be the belief of the adin1inistra-
ton that the whole armament re-
duction program could be put
through without congressional ac-
ton. international understand
ing" Of policy does not require the
of congress and officials
say the proposed scrapping of war
ships could be accomplished under
general authority already possessed
by the executive.
There was every indication to-
night that al the powers would
go into tomorrow's Far Eastern
conference fully prepared to ex-
press their view on the plan pre-
sented as a basis of discussion by
China. During the two day recess
the foreign delegations have been
in touch with their governments
and although not all may desire to
make detailed statements Of their
views at this stage of the negotia-
tions there is a general expectation
that some progress will be posi-
BILE.
The Japanese, in particular, indi-
Gated that they preferred to have
their policies developed step by
step as the negotiations continued.
They were prepared to ask for an
Interpretation Of some of the
Chinese ten points" and seemed
especially interested in the propos-
ais for the reeXamination of all
compacts affecting China. Should
China desire to reopen what ia
pan regards as "closed incidents, "
the step Will be opposed determin-
edly.
General support of China's aspi-
rations for national development.
free from restrictions that hither-
to have surrounded her, was ex-
pressed today among the British
delegates, who declared their gov
ernment was ready to give up the
extra territorial privilege as soon
as Chinese courts We're sufficiently
developed to guarantee justice. A
similar attitude already has been
indicated by France and the Unit
ed States.
The Chinese delegates themselves
will go into tomorrowS meeting
with the attitude that having laid
down their declaration of rights il
is some one else's move. They are
preparing for no further statement.
but say they will be glad to ans
wer questions and explain their in
terpretation of their propositions.
a formal call was issued today
fn,. tho third 1nr1hlin session of the