New-York tribune., 1921-11-19
British London Capital Ship

cepted it in principle as the basis Of
z. discussion.
Few words were wasted by the Amer
Leans In making IL clear to the ncws-
paper men to-day that this government
: is relying on public opinion not only
in the United States but in Great
Britain and Japan TO force an agree
ment. This agreement. according to
the belief of the Harding Administra-
tion, can be reached only on some basis
to which some simple measure can be
The only yardstick which is
really available is that of the existing
ratios as between the navies OF the
r. three great sea powers-Great Britain,
:, the United States and Japan.
IL II it should be permitted, for ex-
=. ample, that each nation should come
eSforward and make plea as to it's
ss'immediate needs, then there would be
ssssno end to the additions which might be
ssimade, and there would be no logical
- place to stop.
e Must End Naval Competition
=. The great evil, according to the view
(which inspired the calling Of the con-
= ference, it was pointed out by the
- spokesman for the Administration, Is
The American delegation
..Xhas given the question very slose study
sand has reached the conclusion that If
ss,this competitive building is to be ended
s=ithe basis Of agreement cannot be what
the nations consider that they need.
II 1t was pointed out that in computing
:.ssthis basis the battleship, IS the ag-
! aggressive fighting unit, was picked out
- as the simplest unit of measurement OF
ssS,naval strength, and this was applied.
LAS to auxiliary ships, that brings up
s.scompiicated disputes as between naval
sscxperts, and agreement or them may
...bs regarded as of far less Importance.
;. Ending of construction of capital ships
ssis the cardinal principle cf limitation
sscof armament in the American view.
X The British suggestion, although 1t
,ssssis not now being put forward SO strong
'~-ly as it was a few days ago, that in
order to keep the shipyards in running
order and to keep the armor plants
and gun factories in such shape that
they could carry on replacement work
ssst the end of the ten-year holiday one
Sed by Great Britain and the United
: States, and two every three years by
Z Japan, also meets strong American dis
approval.
X VIII Stop All Building
..7r The whole spirit Of the naval holi-
s@Sday and its message to the world, it
Z was declared, would, in the opinion OF
7rthe American delegation, be weakened
alif this half holiday" plan should be
: pursued.
x Again to this suggestion the spokes-
: ;, man for the Administration voiced the
.Tvview="The way to stop competitive
: building is to stop"
< Neither the British nor the Japanese
have as yet laid their formal proposals
Nsfor changes in the American plan be-
= 'Sfore the committee in charge of naval
Harmament limitation or before the con-
ference. AS pointed out in The Tribune
3Sthis morning, the British seem to have
weakened already to large extent on
!. their ship-a-year idea. The Japanese
gave their general idea to the press
asking that the proportion
( Scf battleships allotted to Japan be in
decreased slightly from go per cent-or
: the 5-5-3 basis--and that they be al
Slowed on light cruisers to approximate
aaethe strength of the British and Amerl-
< can navies.