Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1921-11-25
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARD.

TT APPEARS that the prophets In
i Washington were all wrong. The
great conference seemingly Is going to
reach and sign an agreement on llmita-
ton Of naval armament without waiting
to settle the problems Of the Pacific
and the Far East. This tendency Is
. result Of Secretary Hughes down.
right action In laying before the con-
ference In Its first session the Amer
lean proposal as to navies. Briefly,
that proposal Is that the United
States, Great Britain and Japan agree
to suspend naval construction for ten
years, and during the succeeding ten
years build only for replacement; that
all uncompleted capital ships and
many other specified capital ships be
scrapped at once; that the aggregate
capital ship tonnage be limited to 5O0,-
900 each for England and America,
and 100000 for Japan; that the sea
power Of the three nations be main
tained on this basis. There are other
features Of the program, but every
one is familiar with 1t by this time.
The conference, and the world, were
at first astounded by this unexpected
laying Of the American cards on the
table, and then the plan was greeted
with loud and universal acclaim. The
delegates of the other nations could
not, II they would, refuse to indorse
II, and at the second open session
Great Britain, Japan, Italy and
France, formally accepted It "ln prin-
ciple," with minor notifications.
These, as set forth then and later,
were as follows:
BY Great Britain-Limit size and
tonnage Of submarines; permit con-
struction of one capital ship year
during ten-year period to retain ship
yard facilities; permit retention Of
more light cruisers and gunboats to
police the high seas; reduction In
number Of naval ship building yards.
BY Japan-Increase Of Japan's ma.
val strength to 10 per cent Of British
and American; cessation Of construc.
tion Of naval bases and new fortifca-
lions in the Pacific.
BY France-Allowanc Of eight cap
ital ships to safeguard French COL
onies.
BY Italy-Allowance of six capital
ships to protect Italian interests.
A committee, Of which Col. Theo-
dore Roosevelt Is chairman, set to
work at once to study the plan and
proposal notifications, and by the end
Of the week It was predicted an agree
ment would be reached within two or
three weeks. Among the American
experts there was considerable oppo-
-sition to the British suggestions,
and the Englishmen dropped the idea
Of one battleshlp a year.
Japan's proposition that there be no
more naval bases or Notifications con-
.structed In the Pacific was expected,
'and perhaps proves a bit awkward
Tor the United States. II means the
abandonment Of work and plans In
De Philippines, Dutch Harbor and
sewhere which have been considered
cost necessary for the safety Of our
pssessions In the Pacific II not for
ht Of our Pacific coast. But II Mr..
4pghes' general program IL accepted
the other powers It would seem
United States cannot well declined
accept this plan Of Japan. In the
% -scrapping proposal America has
a most unselnsh and perhaps she
afford to bs az generous In other
tiers
MAYHEM the time came 10 nut for.
NV ward plans for settlement Of
~ problems Of the Far East none
q the great p0wers seerned roeav