The Topeka state journal., 1921-11-12
YANK PROPOSAL
PROVES SURPRISE
Not Expected American Pro-
gram Would Be So Drastic.
Conference Delegates AstOund-
ed at Outline Offered Them.
STOPS CAPITAL SHIP BUILDING
Make Great Britain First and
and Japan Third on Sea.
Only First Step in World Wide
Scheme for Disarmament.
STOPS CAPITAL SHIP BUILDING

Washington, Nov. ~. - Complete
abandonment of all capital shipbuild-
ing programs, either actual or pro-
jected, was proposed to the arma-
ment conference today by Secretary of
State Hughes as the first step in the
world wide plan to limit the pavies
of the powers.
Secretary Hughes spoke in his Off
ciaI capacity as chairman of the
American delegation and submitted
complete plan for the limitation OF
naval armament in his opening ad-
dress. The plan had previously been
worked out by American naval ad-
visers.
Proposal Was Bombshell.
It came as a bombshell to all ex-
cept the inner circles of the American
government. It had not been expected
that the Americans would take the
lead with such a definite. concrete
and drastic proposal until the confer
enee had gotten under way.
If the terms of the Hughes proposal
are applied to the United States navy,
our future strength at sea will be
limited to IS capital ships with a
tonnage Of 500, $50; Great Britain %
capital ships. tonnage 604.450, and
Japans navy will be 10 capital ships,
tonnage 299, 700.
The Limitation of all capital ship
building programs, actual or projected.
is the first and leading feature of the
American official proposal program.
Safeguards All Interests.
The naval armament Limitation pro-
posals made by Mr.. Hughes in his
address were as follows:
The United States proposes the fol-
lowing plan for a limitation of the
naval armaments of the comforting
nations. The United States believes
this plan safely guards the interests of
all concerned.
''In working out this proposal the
United States has been guided by four
general principles:
"(a) The limitation of all capital
shipbuilding program, either actual
or projected.
"(b) Further reduction thru the
scrapping of certain of the older
"(c} That regard should be had to
the existing naval strength of the con-
ferring powers.
"(d) The use of capital ship ton
mage as the measurement of strength
for navies and a proportionate allow
ance OF auxiliary combatant craft pre-
scribed
For the United States.
Il. The United States to scrap all
new capital ships now under construc-
ton and on their way to completion.
This includes six battle cruisers and
building and two battleships launched.
(NOTE: Paragraph 1 involves a
reduction of fifteen capital ships un-
der construction, with a total tonnage
VIXEN COR pieted of $4,000 tons. Total
amount of money already spent on
fifteen capital ships-$332,O0O,0 O,000.)
"2. The United States to scrap all
battleships up to but not including the
Delaware and North Dakota.
(NOte The number of old battle
ships sc-apped under paragraph 2 is
fifteen; their total tonnage is 227,740
tons. The grand total of capital ships
to be scrapped is thirty, aggregating
$40 tOns.)
For Great Britain.
"S. Great Britain to stop further
construction on the four new Hoods.
(NOTE: Paragraph involves a re-
duction of four new capital ships not
yet laid down, but upon which money
has been spent, with a total tonnage
when completed of 172, 900 tons.)
-. In addition to the four Hoods,
Great Britain to scrap her pre-dread-
naughts. second line battleships and
first line battleships up to. but not in
Guiding the King George V class.
(NOTE: Paragraph 4 involves the
disposition of nineteen capital ships
certain of which have already been
crapped-with a tonnage reduction of
411,375 tons. The grand total ton
mage of ships scrapped under this
agreement will be 5S3,375 tons.)
For Japan.
"5. Japan to abandon her pro-
gram of ships not yet laid down. viz:
The Xii. Dwarf. No. 7, No. s. battle
ships, and Nos. 8, s, and battle
cruisers.
(NOTE: Paragraph 5 does not in
volve the stopping of construction on
any ship upon which construction has
begun.)
20. japan to scrap three battle
ships, the Mutsu. launched. and the
Tosa and Kaga, building. and four bat
tie cruisers. the Amagi and Akagf,
building. and the Atago and Takao,
not yet laid down but for which GER
tain material has been assembled.
(NOTE: Paragraph 6 involves a
fCnnfinued ON mage s,hreaN