The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-11-14
DELEGATES HAVE
NOT RECOVERED
FROM THE SHOCK
Concrete Terms of American
Plan for Reduction Of Fleets
in Hands of Experts.
FLAT REJECTION OF
PLAN NOT PROBABLE
American Plan Begins to Stand
Out in It's True Proper
tiOns to the Powers.


to the arms conference had no recov-
cred today from the shock of Secretary
Hughes blunt presentation yesterday
Of the proposal for Immediate reduo-
tion or the fleets OF Great Britain. the
United States and Japan, and for ten-
year naval holiday.
The concrete terms of the American
plan, laid before the opening session or
the conference on limitation Of arna-
ments were still in the hands OF the
naval experts OF the other two powers
chiefly concerned.
Pending their conclusions, no fur
Their step Is probable. The spokesmen
here for Great Britain and Japan have
nothing to add to their previous
guarded comments on Mr. Hughes
suggestions. AS far as they went.
those statements were encouraging.
and It was certain at least that no pos
sibility Of fiat rejection OF the plan ex-
listed Without doubt It viii fornf the
basis for reaching whatever conclu-
sions the conference brings forth.
With further time for stury by In
terested officials OF all nations. the
American plan began to stand out to-
day IN It's true proportions. Apparently
It is far more than a ten-year naval
holiday that IS projected. coupled with
immediate heavy reduction of the fleets
of the three powers Beyond that Is a
third equally blunt and direct sugges-
tion for continuing agreement. to limit
the size Of battlo fleets permanently. |
That Is what Mr. Hughes naval re-
placement plan really amounts to.
In naming the ships to which each
main battle fleet would be cut II the
American plan for Immediate reduction
was accepted, Secretary Hughes state
IA mt shows that Great Britain and the
United States would be on exact equal
ity in the number OF battleships. but
the British would retain. IN addition,
four battle cruisers. The proposed
Japanese feet would be composed OF
six battleships and four battle cruisers,
while tho United states would be con-
tent with battleships alone
This may prove significant as the
discussion proceeds. some naval officers
believe. 1t appears probable that, In
proposing to agree that both Of the
island powers should be provided in
equal number with those newest adj
dltions to the main fleets of nations,
while the United States made no lat-
tempt for ten years at least to equip
the American fleet similarly. the Amer
lean delegation to the arms conference
sought to convey very definite as
surance that America, as President
Harding told the conferces. came to the
discussion with sno selfish purpose to
serve
Relinquihment by the United States
Of any battle cruiser element in her
fleet. some officers said. at once indi- |
Gated clearly that the navy was not
being maintained with the deliberate
idea that 1t might some day become
advisable TO raid the sea oomrperce or
the two insular powers, or either Of
them. Rattle cruisers would be inval-
liable perhaps vital to successful pros I
ecutiou OF a naval war across the Pa
einc, Il was said.
IN the proposal that the other twol
powers retain battle cruisers squadrons. |
also these officers saw possible con-
certed expression cf American recogni- |
ton Of the necessities in naval forces Of
those countries; or American willing |
nass that they should prosecute legiu- |
mate ventures over the world requir
ing far flung merchant routes, and en-
play for protection az those routes |
naval craft they thought best suited to
the need. As continental power. i
although asserting IN this proposal the
right to an equal footing with any ma
tion on the seas the United States /
might not necessarily need battle /
cruisers as the other powers feel they
do, It was said.
At any rate. the American proposal
has made a nat proposition IN regard
70 battle cruisers. which II was thought /
might be very difficult OF treatment at
the conference. II remains to be seen
what Japan and Great Britain think
about it but a long step toward agree
meut on that question has been taken,
naval folks believe.
The actual business OF negotiations
u the conference viii get underway to-
morrow when the heads Of delegations
VIII meet 10 discuss procedure, a sub
ject likely to develop into one Of the
most important Of the whole confer
ence. From every one Of the Interested
powers have come expressions empha-
sizing that the order ia which the topic
appears on the program would have
significant bearing on the ability OF the
conference to move quickly toward
practical results
To agree on the preliminary details,
Continued on Page Two)