The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-19
AMERICAN DELEGATES DISPUTE
ANY CHANGE IN RATIO PLANS
Plain Talk at Conference Table
Over Japan's Request for
Increase in Navy.
{ny The Assoelated Preasl

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1s.-Japan's
request for an increase in the propor-
tional strength Of her navy may lead
to some plain talk across the council
table OF the arms conference.
The American delegation stands
ready to dispute stubbornly any ma
terial change from the ratio set forth
in the American plan. That ratio it
was emphasized by highest authori-
ties today, reflects existing proportion
al strength and so cannot be altered
without upsetting a fundamental prin-
cipIe 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 announced that they want
seven to ten. The naval experts OF
the United States really believe that
five to ten nearer the proper allot-
ment. Great Britain has accepted the
six to ten plan in principle. but her
spokesmen have been silent about the
new japanese proposals.
If it turns out that the slightly
greater naval forces suggested for
Japan by Admiral Baron Kato only
amounts to the addition of one battle
cruiser to the Japanese figures. then
the emphatic objections of the Ameri-
can delegates may not be deemed nee
essary. But if the suggestion COM
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st is declared on authority that a de-
termined diplomatic struggle will re-
suit.
The clear delineation of the Ameri-
can position on this subject served to
turn attention again to naval arma-
ments today while the far eastern ne
gotiations were at standstill to per-
nit the powers to work out details of
their policy. Neither the conference
or any of its committees met during
the day. but the nine delegates will
assemble tomorrow to resume their
discussion of the far east.
Coincident with the disclosure Of the
American viewpoint on naval reduc-
ton it was revealed today that the ad-
ministration does not propose to limit
the armament agreement, If there is
one, to the nations represented in the
washington conference. Whether a
treaty or simply an understanding"
would come out of the negotiations
administration officials would not pre
dict, but it was said that whatever the
form Of agreement the other interested
nations would be asked to participate.
Should no treaty requiring senate
confirmation result. it was said to be
the belief of the administration that
the whole armament reduction pro-
gram could be put through without
congressional action international
understandings Of policy do not re-
quire the approval Of congress, and
officials say the proposed scrappins
OF warships could be accomplished IN
der general authority already pos
sessed by the executive.
There was every indication tonight
that all the powers would go into to-
morrow's far eastern conference fully
prepared to express their views on
the plan presented as a basis OF dis
cussion 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 negotiations
(continued on Page Ninel