The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1921-11-15
-FOUR NATIONS
TODAY ACCEPT
U. s. PROPOSAL
Great Britain, France, Italy
and Japan Announce Ap-
proval of American Plan for
Limiting Naval Armaments.
MODIFY ONLY DETAILS
CBy Associated Press)

France, Italy and Japan today accept
ed the American proposal for limita-
Cloh OF naval ornaments, lin spirit and
principle" making only reservations
suggesting notifications of detail.
In order Arthur ]. Balfour speaking
tor Great Britain, Baron Admiral
Kato, speaking for Japan; Senator
Chanzer, speaking for Italy: and NJ.
BIiand speaking for France, rose in
their places and praised in highest
terms the plan and program suggested
by the American government. gave the
adherence of their governments to the
general terms of The proposal.
Before hearing the statements of the
delegations the conference adopted
unanimously the committee of the
whole plan worked out by the Big
Five.
Mr., Balfour, who spoke first on the
subject said in substance:
Taking the battleships as a basis.
we think the proposition between the
various countries are acceptable. We
think the limitation of amounts il
reasonable. We think it should be
accepted We believe thoroughly il
will be accepted
Mr. Balfour suggested that the sub
marine tonnage might well be reduced.
and that possible construction of large
submarines should be prohibited.
RaIfour Applauded.
The suggestion for changes in the
proposals, Mr.. Balfour said. amid ap-
plause, would not affect the main
structure" proposed by the United
States, which, he said he believed
would be accepted.
When Mr.. Balfour promised the
full loyal and complete cooperation"
of the British nation toward the gen
eral American plan, the audience rose
and applauded for half minute
AT first glance" said Mr. Balfour,
our experts think that too large all
amount of tonnage has been permit
ted for submarines They were the
most abused agency of the war The
submarine is a defensive weapon of
| the weak. 1t might be desirable to
abolish the submarine altogether
Our experts believe that the sub
marine tonnage proposed is far in ex-
cess of that possessed by any nation.
Suggests Further Limit
Il only throw this out as a sugges-
tiOn-that the tonnage should be furth-
er limited II might be practicable or
desirable to forbid altogether those
submarines OF vast, great size. which
are not intended for defense but whose
whole purpose is attack and attack by
| methods which civilized nations
abhor"
Immediately after Mr.. Balfours con-
clusior, when the official Interpreter
took up its repetition in French, Pro
mier BRAND and the French delega.
tion listened intently.
When the Interpretation of Mr.. Bal
four's speech was concluded. Baron
! Kato, head of the japanese. rose to
make his statement. He spoke in
japanese and kept all around the big
| table guessing what he was saying
During the delivery of his opening
sentences, however. it became known
that he was bespeaking Japan's acceps
tance in principle, as had Mr.. Balfour
before him. A free translation OF
| Admiral katos remarks, was in sub
stance as follows:
Willing to Reduce.
with your permission I wish tc
! present my views on this great qUes-
! tion. | must speak frankly. Japan ap-
preciates the sincerity of the purpose
of the American government for limi-
! tation of arms. She is satisfied il will
| relieve nations of vast expenditures
! and cannot but make for the peace of
the world. Japan has no desire for
| fleet equal to the United States or
Great Britain; Japan is ready to pro
ceed to a sweeping reduction in naval
i ornaments but wants to propose few
notifications in the American plan"
Baron Kato declared the American
plan would relieve the nations of great
fo;1
for the peace ofAthe world"
Premier BRAND, speaking for France
declared the general adherents of the
French government to the purposes of
the American plan. Speaking for
Italy Senator Schanzer told the con
ference the American plan had the
general approval of his government.
The conference adjourned at l2:44 D.
m. to meet again at call of the chair
man.
Secretary Hughes thanked the rep
resentatives of the powers for their
cordial expressions, and declared the
time had come TO proceed with consid-
! Grafton of details of the proposed
agreement.
The question could now be studied
Mr.. Hughes said with the assurance
that there will come out of this con-
ference an appropriate agreement to
| the end that there will be no moro Of
! fensive naval war"
Hughes Gratified
Chairman Hughes declared that all
had listened with qualification and
profound emotion to the expression
of cordial agreement in principle with
the American proposal "It now may
be in order to consider the details" he
| said
There are subjects which must be
examined by naval experts, and II is
| the desire of the American govern
ment that what was proposed by Mr.
| Balfour and Admiral Kato will all be
| thoroughly considered to the end that
| after careful deliberation we may ac-
/ complish the purpose for which this
/ conference assembled to achieve.
/ There will come out of the conference
/ an approved agreement for the reduc-
/ tion of naval armaments and the end
/ of offensive naval warfare which will
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