The New York herald., 1921-12-16
NAVY RATIO FIXED
L. S. Scraps S2O,54O
Tons, Great Britain
6O5,975 and Japan
435,32S Decision.
TOXIC SAVES MUTSU
Pacific Forts and 10 Year
Holiday Agreed On, but
Submarines Pend.
CONFERENCE NEARS END
Franco italian Ship Status,
China and Far East Agenda
Still on Programme.
CONFERENCE NEARS END
ny LOUIS sEuBoLp.

ny LOUIS sEVBOLD.
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington. ID. G., Dec. Is.
/. Three new international agree,
ments were added tonight to the two
already accomplished, and estab-
lished more firmly the foundation on
which the Washington conference is
building a permanent structure for
world peace.
In announcing the greatest step
since the armistice the American
delegation making known the naval
agreement reached by the govern.
ments of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan expressed the
opinion that the most difficult prob
lens facing the international confer
ence have been amicably and success
fully solved.
The three agreements to follow the
treaties among the United States,
Great Britain, France and japan to
respect one another's rights in the
Pacific ard the America n-Japanese
agreement giving this country equal
rights in Pacific mandates of the lat
ter nation are:
I. An agreement among the
United States, the British Empire
and Japan on the subject OF CAPT
| tai naval armaments under the
revised terms Of which the essen
tial features OF the American plan
are preserved.
2. An agreement among the
same nations providing that the
status quo shall be maintained
with respect to the Notifications
and naval bases in the Pacific
region, including Hong Kong.
which Great Britain desired to
have exempted.
3. An agreement providing for
a naval holiday of ten years with
respect to capital ships, as origin
ally proposed by the American
Government, except for the per
| mission for Great Britain to con
struct ships to take the place Of
units retired under the amended
agreement.
Nearing the FinnI Stages.
! In making known the new agree
meuts the American delegation com.
municated the fact that the only
naval problems remaining to be
solved relate TO allowances to be
made for France and Italy and the
determination of the ratios of sub
marines. With the exception of these
two topics and those on the Far East
ern agenda the work of the confer
ence has progressed to definite and
final stages.
Confidence was expressed by Amer
ican delegates tonight that the set.
tlement Of the Shantung controversy,
which appears to be approaching a
satisfactory conclusion. would pave
the way for an agreement regarding
China in short order.
IL is believed the decision reached
over the ratio Of capital ships will
result in far reaching benefits to the
people OF the three countries. which
will scrap q total of sixty-eight cspi-
tai ships, representing a tonnage OF
1,s61.s43.
Under the capital ship agreement.
which will be reduced to the form
OF treaty and submitted to the Sem
ate, Japan agrees 10 scrap ten capital
ships, with a tonnage. Of 435.32s;
Great Britain twenty-three ships,
with a tonnage OF so5,s75. and the
United States thirty. with tonnage
Of S20.540.
In announcing this adjustment OF
the controversy over canital ships.
which was mainly caused by the In
sistence of Japan that she be per
mitted TO retain the Mutsu. the larg.
est warship afioat, the American dele
cation said that the decision finally
reached was attended by the utmost
good nature and characterized by 4
sincere desire on the part OF Great
Britain and japan to assist the United
! States In providing the great reforms