The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-12-02
BRITISH TRY
TO CONVINCE
JAPANESE
Meanwhile the Naval Part
of the Big Conference in
Washington Is Marking
Time, Although Situation
Is Not Considered a
Deadlock


Associated Press American nava
opinion finds it difficult to reconcile
Japanese claims to higher fleet ratio
than the American 5-5-3 proposal OF
the basis of Japan's needs for her owl
defense when the additional tonnage
sought by Japan is all in offensive, moi
defensive ships.
So far. discussion has been largely
confined to capital ships, Battleships
and battle cruisers regarded in all ma
vies rs purely offensive weapons. This
is true particularly of the cruiser with
long cruising radius b. permit oper-
sations far from home waters.
The Japanese experts brought up in
discussions among the experts, however,
the question of additional airplane car
riers for Japan. 1t has been indi-
Gated in Japanese circles that Japan
desires equal tonnage with Great Brit
ain and the United States in carriers.
1t is asserted by American officers
that airplanes themselves might be
classed as defensive weapons as long
as no means was provided to carry
them to distant waters. But when air
plane carriers are provided the air
craft become potential weapons of Of
Tense for bombardment of enemy cit
les and Notifications.
Another aspect of the airplane car
rier problem lies in the American pol
icy providing for division of her fleet
for operations in two far separated
seas. the Atlantic and Pacific, even
If American assumptions as to the
Philippines are disregarded in the cal
culations. That makes necessary,
American officers argue, airplane car
riers for use with each fleet. Great
Britain, it is asserted, has even wider
responsibilities in all the seven seas.
Britains national life depends on keep
ing the seas open to her trade ships
and her equipment in aircraft and car
riers must be equal to that Of any
other power.
Japan, in the American view, is not
similarly situated. Her navy operates
practically for defensive purposes, as
a single unit. The sea of Japan, which
lies between Japan and Korea, is sus-
ceptible of such defense that il would
be impossible for access by an enc
my fleet in war time. Over it lies a
road TO Korea, held by Japan, and to
Mongolia and Manchuria, under jap |
anese influence, that makes the raw
materials and other resources of those
countries available TO Japan without |
fear of interruption in war times,
American naval opinion holds.
For these reasons il is regarded as
certain that the American conference /
delegation will not be disposed to ac-
cept the Japanese proposal of equal
tonnage in airplane carriers for Ja-
pan in the replacement agreement. The
question has not been reached as yet
for debate.
Hope for an early settlement of the
dispute arising from Japan's request
for an increase from 60 to 20 per cent
in the capital ship tonnage allotted her
under the American limitation plan
centered to-day in the efforts of Great
Britain to bring the Japanese views
into harmony with those of the United
States.
Meanwhile principals on both sides
of the controversy refuse to view the
situation a. a deadlock.
With the naval situation marking
time, the far eastern committee Of the
conference was prepared to resume its
sessions to-day after suspending yes
terday TO permit organization Of the
conference Of delegations from Japan
and China on the Shantung question.