Evening star., 1921-12-27
The Principles of "5-5-3" in
Triumph.

While the French demands for the
authorization of an Unexpectedly large
fleet for that country came as dis
tinct anti-climax. the press OF the coun-
try generally has agreed that the vital
issue of limiting capital ships was set
tied when Japan gave her assent to the
5-5-3 ratio. Secretary Hughes can now
write the words Completed u II.
against the second item" on the WASH
ington conference program. comments
the Chicago Post independently. because
the settlement has been reached sub
stantially on Mr.. Hughes own terms.
And, believing that the revised tonnage
by which Japan saves her cherished
Mutsu from the scrap heap is an unim-
portant detail that does not AFFECT the
principIe of armament limitation, the
nress adds its enthusiastic 20. K" as
well.
From the first, the difficulty that stood
between Japan and prompt acceptance
of the Hughes program was the pattle-
shin Mutsu, which under the American
plan was condemned. Overcoming that
obstacle while keeping to the spirit ana
purpose of the original proposal mas
been the task of the conference, ana, as
the Worcester Telegram trepuohcan)
saws. "the manner in which agreement
has been reached is typical of the spirit
which has animated the entire gathering
since it assembled" Granting Japan
the right to retain her new dreadnaugnt
is "a concession to that countrys ma
tional pride," the Portland (Me.) Ex-
press and Advertiser Tepublicanl OBJ
serves, but at the same time, according
to the New York Herald independently,
"it was good manners and wise diplo-
macy" for Japan had met the other
delegates of the conference in SO fair
a spirit and on so many points that II
was amply due her that they should
meet her in this matter of profound
national objection to the destruction
of the Mutsu," and, however American
opinion might view the matter, tine ma
tional sentiment interviewer with the
whole fiber of the Mutsu was ol large
moment in Japan"
The Mutsu, built in part by the
patriotic contributions of Japanese
workmen and school children" rather
symbolized in the japanese mind the
big naval program which the public
Sandusky (Ohio) Register republl-
CAM puts it, by long-continued gov
ernmental propaganda" and though
..convinced with great difficulty. they
have come to regard the japanese navy
as their country's peculiar pride, ana
| Ito support ana IIldluldlh IL has ueSothc
a test Of patriotism" Naturally. the
Register concludes, "the government
hadn't the nerve to ask the Japanese
public's approval of the entire sacrifice
proposed, after the sacrifices the peo-
ple themselves have been persuaded 10
make" Retaining this particular ship,
accordingly, was desirable. as the Chi
cago POST says, as a means of saving
the faces of the Japanese delegates
and of assuring them the backing of
their government and nation"
Any way, what difference does 1t
make whether a ship more or less is
retained by Japan or by Britain or by
American" asks the Reno Gazette Gre
publican). None at all,'' it replies, for
"the very fact that the discussion has
come down to such trif1ing details is
proof that on the main principle there
is no question whatever" The great
battleship, however. does increase the
effective fighting force and the tonnage
of the Japanese navy the st. Louis
Globe Democrat (republican) points
out, and this necessitated correspond
ing changes in the American and Brit
ish lists" This was done, says the
Minneapolis Tribune independent re-
publican), "by giving the United
States two additional ships of the
Maryland class instead of the Delaware
and North Dakota, and by permitting
Britain two superdreadnaughts similar
to the Maryland and the Mutsu, though
of greater tonnage, at the same time
gaining her promise to scrap four old
battleships not ordered scrapped in the
original list"
The Milwaukee Sentinel (republican)
is convinced that "the increase of tom
mage allowed is not sufficient to arouse
any apprehensions," and while admit
tedly 1.-The navy of each tpower) will
thereby be stronger" the ratio. the
ri YrI k1I, ;4N
contends, will be the same The
change in capital tonnage in no way