New-York tribune., 1921-12-14
Announcement of Deci-
sion on Navy Held Up by
Contention Over Substi-
tutes To Be Scrapped
Hughes Summons
Experts in Council
Agreement Tomorrow,
Adjournment by End of
the Week Are Predicted
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec. l3.-Two
important developments to-day car
ried the Conference on the Limita-
ton of Armament a long way
toward the fulfillment of its aims.
1t became apparent after the meet
ing Of the Big Three-Secretary
Hughes, Arthur j. Balfour and Ad-
miral Kato-that Japan had accept
ed the 5-5-3 naval ratio proposed by
MIR. Hughes, provided she was per-
mitted to scrap secondary ships and
save the great new superdread-
nought Mutsu for her battle feet.
The other development of first sig
nificance was the signing of the
four-power treaty drawn by the
United States, Great Britain, Japan
and France to preserve peace on the
Pacific.
japanese Demands Complex
The contest in the meeting of the Big
Three to-day was between Admiral
Kato, on the one hand, and Messrs.
Hughes and Balfour, on the other. Dur
ing the discussion, it became known,
Admiral Kato proposed alternatives SO
complicated that Mr. Hughes sent a
hurried call for expert naval advice,
and soon Assistant Secretary of the
Navy Roosevelt, Admiral Coontz and
Rear-Admiral Pratt were cioseted with
the Big Three.
Japanese Offer Refused
1t is understood that Messrs. Hughes
and Balfour have refused the japanese
offer to scrap much older ship than
the Mutsu, and have insisted that if
the Mutsu is to be saved Japan must
scrap two of her big new battle cruisers
"a type of ship of which the United
States has none, although the United
States would scrap the six now under
construction under the Hughes plan.
These six United States cruisers range
from about 3 per cent completed for
the one on which least has been done
to about 80 per cent for the one on
which most has been done.
Japan had hoped. after accepting the
5-5-3 ratio, that she would be permitted
to retain the Mutsu by scrapping one
or possibly two ships so old as to be
we'll on the way to the scrap heap any
how. This is one of the explanations
of the fact that the naval agreement,
although in sight for long time, has
been delayed.
First Proposal Rejected
Earlier in the day Mr.. Hughes dis
cussed with the American delegation
and the same naval advisers the propo-
sjtions which Admiral Kato had made
at yesterdays meeting. 1t is under
stood that the original Japanese sug-
gestion. which was that the 5-5-3 ratio
should be preserved, if they kept the
Mutsu, by the United States complet-
ing the Colorado and Britain one of
the Hoods, has been definitely rejected.
Japan is willing. it was said. to
scrap one OF the new battle cruisers,
but Baron Kato contended that to
scrap two Of them would reduce tho
ratio from 5-5-3 almost to 5-5-2la. The
position of both the British and Amer:-
can delegations all along has been that
If the 5-5-3 ratio en- capital ships
should be preserved they would not
quarrel over specific ships. except that
any change in the list OF s~ips to be
scrapped must be fully equalizcd by
scrapping sufficient other tonnage, so
that no suspicion whatever would be
left that the nation proposing the sub
stitution might increase her relative
strength through the change.
Expect Announcement Tomorrow
Despite the technical dispute. which
has now become so involved that the
american representative on the Big
Three has had TO call in naval experts
to examine the Japanese proposals,
there is no pessimism as o the situa-
tion here. On the contrary. there is a
unanimous conviction among those on
the inside that the final agreement on
the naval ratio will be announced at a
pubic session tomorrow.
Every effort to discover the source
of this talk about tomorrow for the
public session has failed, but the con
viction seems persistent No one in a
position to know would make this posi-
tive statement, although the predic-
tion that the whole discussion would
be ended this week was made very posi-
lively by man in constant touch with
the conference.
The treaty on Van will be signed as
soon as it is put in d7ai form. This
and the four power treaty are now
out of the hands of ohs dipioaats,
practically speaking, and, judging by
the developments on Capitol Hill, in
the hands of the Senator's for pur-
poses Of discussion.
President in No Hurry
In connection with the debate on The
four-power treaty in the Senate it be-
came known to-day that President Har-
Ding is IN no great hurry for the
Senate to act. No hurry up orders will
be issued from the White House. The
President takes the position that the
Senator's know what is in the treaty.
and that they already have had 4
! chance to study it. incidentally. he
knows that two of the treatys trainers,
Senator'S Lodge and Underwood. are
the leaders Of their parties in the SEN
| ate. They will be there daring the
debates which win ensue after the
treaty is before the Senate to answer
any questions which may be put.
The President therefoye does not
! intend to deliver an address to the