The Washington herald., 1921-11-13
Small Nasleas Vet IsvoIyre

-. - I ~
Representatives Of the smtrer
nations who have no direct int-resr
in this particular problem wrrc
prohibited, through motives n
ternAtional etiquette. from di cssF.
ing the Hughes suggestions. sut
they declared that acceptance ~
the principles must be o. the great
est beneft to the world al large.
Ending Of the mad race for naval
supremacy by agreement that would
last ten years would eliminate a
very potent cause Of war. they
pointed out. And they also pro
fessed to believe that when the ar
tusl discussions Of the plan taxi
place IL will be found that all coun-
ter-propossls will carry time lim-
its apd suggestions Of definite re
ductions even though they may not
go as far as America desires.
The various hotels and headquar-
ters OF the foreign delegations
hummed with conversation last
night Little groups gathered here
and there TO talk II over There
was no effort made to hide the sur
prise and amazement which the
Hughes suggestions created Revo-
lutionary in their extent and un-
precedented in their character.
these proposals never could have
been made in the open in a Euro
pean capital. The leading dele
gates were very anxious to learn
:. hat effect publication Of them
would have on the peoples at home
The cables under the Atlantic
hummed with messages in unsolv-
able cipher asking for Information.
British startled.
This was especially so with the
British. The British feet is IA
cred institution in Great Britain
and her colonies. The old slogan
britannia rules the wave" was
revered by Britons even befor
days OF Nelson and Drake. Br
ers have never beErudged o.
money spent on the feet be uu-r
they have argued that its eKis ucr
was necessary 20 keep the - Fire
alive. Now comes the pro rs-e
that the planned Hood type ws-r
craft. the most powerful morsfefE.
of the deep ever designed te,
thrown fnto the scrap heap aioar
with other units OF tho grand rex
that blpckaded the seas during to-
war
How would the common re 70 {
the backbone Of Britain's Ercagncss
| look on Il all? That was wEst re
British subjects in their several he-
tells were asking themselves 80
one was prepared to reply. Nal
there was a general belief thE P-s-.
| mier Lloyd George would ~ 70
get here before the British Jrit-'
cation would have 90 come intc the
open on the subject OF course. shr
British delegates have said that
they favored some sort Of Iimitstion
OF armament. But they have hsli
that in any such plan their re t~5
strength must be maintained. a.
whether they now can tax
American proposals as Of
nature that they may he apT "A
was something none OF them
TO discuss last night
Experts st Work Now.
Like the Japanese. British e: rs
must analyze the proposals aui
carefully examine them. And Sr
the Japanese. until the exper -
port, the British mission nu: -
frain from taking a definite Hn ie7
position. But even here Their -
positive attitude that. H far
American proposal is unacceF Eshlf
IL must at least be made the -
for discussion and negouatior -
eventually some degree OF lind p 4.
ton OF naval armament must ~.
reached.
The only oficiai Ftatement as
thorized was given 20 British cor
Continued on Pase n.