The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-11-14

American proposal for the limitation of
armament. These principles were advo-
tatyd:--
That all capital ship building pro
grams either actual or projected should /
be abandoned.
% that further reduction should be !
made through the scrapping OF certain
older ships.
fiat in general regard should be paid
to the existing naval strength OF the
gyGcT~ concerned.
That the capital ship tonnage should
br used a. a measurement OF strength I
before navics and appropriate allow
auc1 Of auXiliary combatant craft pre-
serted.
lhan followed technical details Of the
G;isldiur programs of the United states. !
Great Britain and Japan with Sugsee-
tioas a. to exactly what vessels should
b" ~crappcd.
Unexpected Strike
1t was Il bold and unexpected stroke
ON the part of the American delegation
and fairly took the breath away from
the visiting delegates who have been
accustomed TO secret conference before
anything SO concrete Is made known.
Pa realizing that public opinion Isl
America : greatest pillar of strength
IN bringing the conference TO success
full end. MIR. Hughes took the entire
world into his confidence and showed
huw far America was willing to go to
achieve reduction in military directions.
This is a paraeraph in Mr.. Hughes 5 adj
dress which Indicated the extreme to
which the United States i willing to
The United states ROW is complet-
in- its program of 1916 calling for 10
ugw battlcShirS and six battle cruisers.
me battle5hip has been completed, the
others are i'm various stages OF con
~truct.ou: I'M some cases from 90 to over
~ per cent of the construction has been
lone ON these - capital ships now he
inr built over S.E}n UG0.00n have been
spent. still the United States i willing
IN the interest of an Immediate hmita-
tion OF armament, To scrap all these
ships.
Nut Alone United States
Mr.. Hughes pointed out that the
lated States would Hot reduce arma-
uent unless the other nations agreed.
lUt Is the plan were accepted fully 30
capital ships aggTc-ating S45,740 tons
would be strapped.
Mr.. Hughes suggested in. his plan that
- for period of not less than 10 years
there would be 10 further, construction
ot capital ships. Tremendous applause
greeted this statement.
For Great Britain. Mr. Hughes sug-
Zt~tCd that construction on the four
new Hood battleships be stopped and
that in addition all predreadnoughts-
sccond-iiuc battleships and first line up
To the - King George W class-be
~crapped This would mean. he ex-
ulpjned. u total of 80 capital ships; or
total tonnage to be wiped out. including
the new Hoods. of $3.50 tons. This is
les in tonnage than the United states
would lose. thus preserving the idea of
.'1he existing naval strength OF the
powers concerned. -
Fer Japan
For Japan. Mr.. Hughes proposed that
Inn but two new battleShipS and four
lattle cruisers be abandoned. He re
marked that This does not involve the
stopping OF construction, as the con-
-truction of none OF these Chips has been
Lcguu.''
next MIR. Hughes advocated that
Japan should scrap the famous g Nut
~U - and - kago, . the most powerful
bait Icship ever planned as we'll as four
battle cruisers authorized but not laid
down. The total number of new CAPT
tai ships scrapped would be seven and
the total tonnage 2S9040, which to-
gether with 10 battlesnips of the second
line would mean = grand tot"l Of 448,22S
tons.
1t viii be noticed that under this plan
the United States would agree to give
mp the most tonnage-s45, 54O-as com
uared with Britain 5 $3.50 and Japan :
ass OBS
requirements are always a vital fac
tor as nations are accustomed to Consi-
der certain ships out of date every few
years. Here came Mr. Hughes 5 most
radical proposal. He Insisted that no
requirements should be made in less than
10 wears and that there should be agreed
upon In advance u maximum tonnage for
replacement of 100000 tons for the
United States. Great Britain 100000 tons
and Japan 300 0e0 tons. He also de
clared that $4,000 tons should be the
limit in size of any new battlcships. I'm
concluding MIR. Hughes predicted that
enormous sums would thus be released
to aid the progress of civilization and at
the same time the proper demands Of
national defense will be adequately met
and the nations will have complete of,-
pCrtunitE during the u#vai holiday Of 10
wears to consider their future course.
i'rrnaratious for offensive naval wars
viii stop now. -
Mu;h Enthusiasm
It is difficult to describe the cheering
and enthusiasm Of the galleries as the
secretary OF state OF the United States
finished his speech. The delegates sat
quietly. only Il few Joining I'M tue demon
stration of applause those who could
was made that a French text had heen
printed and would be distributed after
the end of the session 80 no visible on
p0gtmity would be given to determine
the effect Of Mr. Hughes : remarks. The
delegates showed their surprise, how
ever.
The British and japanese took up!
their pencils aud began to make notes
before they learned that COPIES would be
available later 1t was sensational
performance and typical Of American
tactics