New Britain herald., 1921-12-15
Overnight Compromise Suggestions Indicate That Formal Agree ment Has Not Yet Been Reached
If Japan Retains Mutsu, Then England Gets Two Super-HOOds and U. $. Another Dreadnaught.

Washington, Dec. 15 (By Asso- ciated Press. )-Alternate proposals relating to the 5-5-3 ratio, as worked out, apparently overnight by naval experts, were presented today 10 Sec retary Hughes, Mir. Ralfour ana Baron kato, which indicated, ac- cording to delegation spokesmen, that no formal agreement had been reached by the big three.
 Change for England.
 The proposals, submitted as a means of balancing the naval ratio to compensate for the retention of the Mutsu by Japan would permit Great Britain to build two super Hoods, scrapping four old dread naughts and one battle cruiser, of the type of the Tiger and Repulse or to build two battleships of the Royal Sovereign class, scrapping Of four dreadnaughts, but no battle cruisers.
 It was stated that these alternatives are combined with all sorts of ques- tions as to the method of calculating tonnage, whether by the American or hy the British or Japanese systems.
 America Gains Two.
 The increase of the American ton mage by 25.0Oo would admit the sub sttution of the uper-dreadnaught Colorado and Washington for the older battleships Delaware and North Dakota.
 Japan in retaining the Mutsu would scrap the SetSu,
 The substantial effect of the adop- tion of either of these alternatives would be to retain the naval ratio or 5-5-3, while admitting a general in crease of tonnage all around.
 British Indignant.
 The British delegates were repre- sented as indignant at the suggestion that they have been opposing the Japanese request for retention Of the Mutsu and increase of totnnage for the reason that the British did not wish to build more ships.
 The spokesman also said settlement of naval ratio, so far as Japan was concerned, was involved with that of fortifications in the Pacific.
 Question of Forts.
 80 far as the question of fortifica- tons and works are concerned,' he added the suggestion has been made that these remain in status quo; 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 contemplation 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 discus sion has been proceeding on the as sumption that an arrangement would be possible concerning American and Japanese works in the Pacific.
 Difficulties in considering this phase of the question it was said had special reference to the British program, ne- cessitating the construction by Great Britain of two super Hoods which would increase her tonnage allotment beyond the limit fixed in the American proposal submitted to the arms con- ference at It's opening session.
 American Tonnage
 Ut should be pointed out British spokesman said that under the ar engagement respecting United States ships the United States tonnage would be increased to 25,00O."
 Apparently the delay in reaching a settlement, it was said was due to the necessity of reconcilinE the various sets of figures. Long discussions are said to have taken place at the meet ing of the big three for the purpose of devislng some plan that would bring the British program into line with the revised Japanese and American pro- grams and which at the time would keep the British tonnage in propor- tionate limits as prescribed by Secre- tary Hughes. Regardless of the alternate propos- als. the feeling, especially in British circles, that agreement on naval ratio was within reach was so strong that a spokesman for the delegation pre- dicted that a plenary session of the conference to consider the report Of the big three would be held Saturday or Monday.
 Hearing Near End.
 Consideration of the naval ratio question was understood to have been completed late today by the big three of the Washington conference.
 Meeting at the State department, Secretary Hughes, Arthur J. Baltour and Admiral Baron kato spent an hour discussing, it was understood, the naval ratio question: and at the break-up of the session it was indicat- ed they would not meet again.
 This was taken to forecast final and complete agreement on limitation Of naval armament as regards the United States, Japan and Great Britain.