Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-12-01
JAPS COME OUT
FLAT FOR 10
NAVAL RATIO
Formal Proposal Pre-
sented to U. S. and
Britain
Move Has Full Support Japan
csc Cabinet and Diplomatic
Council in TOkiO-Americans
Still Hold Hope Of Winning
Jap to Hughes 500 Plan

Japar's proposal for a seventy per
cent, fleet, as necessary to her ma
tional security instead Of a sixty per
cent. fleet, has formally been present
ed to the United States and Great
Britain.
Baron Admiral .Kato, senior Japan
csc delegate, has communicated it
Arthur J. Balfour. 1t is said in Jap
anese quarters to have the full sup
port of the Japanese cabinet and the
diplomatic advisory council in Toxic.
American and British naval ex-
perts, standing together on Secretary
Hughes "fve-five-three" plan as the
only one fair to all powers. regard
the Japanese proposal as wholly I'M
acceptable. In the opinion of some
of the American delegates the situa-
ton is delicate but not without hope
that the Japanese ultimately will ac-
cept the original plan.
The seriousness of the turn of af-
fairs. in the 'opinion of the Amer
leans is that Japan in persisting in
her request for a '10-10-7" ratio
makes a stroke at the fundamental
idea on which Secretary Hughes
proposal Is based
Japan's proposal, It was disclosed,
was based not on a calculation Of the
strength Of the existing American,
British and Japanese fleets but upon
her estimate of necessity for national
security. 1t was pointed out among
the Americans and British that if
considerations of national security
were to be substituted for a contin
uation of fleets at reduced tonnage
hut in the same ratio as now exists,
the whole basis of the conference
would be upset
On the basis of national security. 1t
was said. neither the United States
nor Great Britain would agree to the
sixty per cent. ratio which the Hugh
es' plan would allow to Japan.
Secretary Hughes and his three COL
leagues of the American delegation
spent nearly three hours tonight de-
batting the situation. Heretofore. the
japanese claim had been made only
informally in the subcommittee OF
naval experts.
Baron Eato's action swept away at
once the delibera tons Of the experts
considering the American limitation
plan. They have had 10 do only with
technical questions of tonnage es-
Inmates involved in the American
proposal to limit fleets on the basis OF
existing relative strength in capital
ships Japan has now taken the mat =
ter out of that field entirely.
Birth experts ere in full accord
with America that the i've -five-
three" proposal is the only possible
road to an agreement that if fair to
all powers. particularly in view of the
enormous dsproportion of the sacri
fees in ships and money the United
States has offered to undertake. The
two powers are agreed also, that pre-
vious efforts of the japanese TO base
their claim for 20 per cent. on call
culat ton Of existing strength which
would exclude ships under construc-
ton are not within the scope of argu-
ment The japanese claim, it was
indicated, was based upon reasons
Of national security"
/ On such a basis, the extent Of AM
erican and British coast lines as com
pared to Japanese. American and
British interests and obligations in
the Far East as compared to Japan
csc, the commercial enterprises OF
American and British citizens over
the world as compared to japanese
would have to be weighed. 1t was
said. The comparison. it was added,
would not admit of even a sixty per
cent status for Japanese.