The Maui news. [volume] (Wailuku, Maui, H.I.) 1900-current, 1921-12-16
Big Three Agree
On Terms Naval
Force Reduction
Some Slight Notifications Are
Made But French Proposals
Might Upset Them; Great
Progress Making.
ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-Off1cial
announcement of agreement upon the
5-5-3 basis for United States, Britain
and Japan in naval strength was
made by the state department last
evening.
Under the agreement reached it is
understood that Japan will retain the
Hutsu instead of the Setsu and the
United States will retain the Colo
RADIO and Washington of the Mary
/ land Class instead of the Delaware
and North Dakota. Great Britain
will build two super-dreadnaughts
similar to the Maryland and the Mui-
su and scrap four that were original
ly scheduled for retention.
Pacific Fortifications
The agreement contains status
quo understanding for the fortifica-
ton of Pacific Island except Hawaii
and those along the Australian, New
Zealand and Japanese coasts. With
such exceptions the agreement coin
cides with the original plan but Ques-
tions of submarine strength, aircraft
and carriers and possible modifica-
tion of the ten years ship-building
holiday are reserved for considera-
tion by the naval committee of Is.
The agreement also provides for
maximum size of replacement at 81
900 tons American measurement and
an ultimate capital ship tonnage at
the end of ten years as follows: Bri-
tain and United States, $4,000 tons
each and Japan 315,000 while the orr
ginal plan put replacement at $4,000
and the ratio at 500,000-500000 and
100000. During the next ten years
United States will have 18 capital
ships aggregating 525,S50, Britain 20,
aggregating 582,050 and Japan 10, ag-
gregating $4,000 Britain's excess
is due to the greater age of her ships.
The official announcement said that
the agreement was dependent upon
an agreement with France and Italy
relative to their limit but the ratio of
the big three will not be affected by
negotiations with those two coun-
tries.
Vessels to be Scrapped
Under the agreement the United
. States will scrap 80 ships, the same
number as originally planned but the
/; tonnage to be scrapped is 10000 in
,, stead of $4,000. Japan will scrap
the sa ne number oi ships as original
; ly suggested but 435,000 instead of
448,O0O tons and Great Britain will
scrap 23, instead of 10, and 605,O00
tons instead of 583,000 1t is an
nounced that the naval and fortifica-
. ton agreement will be embodied in
: treaty to be signed by United
!. States, Britain, Japan, France and
> Italy and it was further stated that
no plenary session will be held to
consider the naval agreement until
the entire subject, including auxiliary
ships, is settled. 1t was officially
stated that the United States will
save about $20,000,000 annually
through this revision.
The committee 'of Is announces
that the ten years holiday plan will
be retained as originally proposed ex-
cept that Great Britain will be per-
a mitted to build two super-dread-
\ naughts, a compromise on the part OF
= that country on its proposal for a
gradual cessation of building.
The committee of Is will immedi-
|, ately begin consideration of the ratio
,, for France and Italy.
}, Will Sell Railway
/. The Japanese delegation has ac-
/ cepted the Chinese proposal for the
!. purchase of the Kiachou-Tsinfu rail
k way for 53,000,000 gold marks subject
o to the approval of Toxic. The Chin
/ ese delegation said the consortium
, has agreed to finance the project. 1t
|. is understood that Japan consented
!. to the sale several days since sub
I. iect to China's attitude on other sub
g jects.
; Senator Reed of Missouri has
N launched another attack on the pro-
a posed quadruple entente characteriz-
r. ing it as a "gold brick" and an Jap.
a. anese-American Alliance" He said
<. that coupled with the naval agree
n. ment it will make Great Britain mis-
8 tress of the seas for ten years and in
i substance binds the United States
"a never to have navy larger than Bri
4 tain and gives to Japan a navy out
A of proportion to its wealth and popu
* lation.
f. France Springs Surprise
e, French delegates ask for nava
S. increase so great that 1t would upset
c. the entire 5-5-3 plan, according to
Il, members of the British delegation
TX who understand that France seeks tC
P. build ten superdreadnaughts of the
II, $4,000 ton, Maryland type in the ter
a, years following 1925, giving capita
h, tonnage of 100000 in comparison t
81, Japan's 315,000.
ry 1t is reported that Italy disapprovei
n the French program but has declares
u that if France builds ten ships, Ital!
lg will have to do the same.
n The British announcement o
Frances naval request struck confer
ence circles with stunning force, he
ss proposals being so out of accord wit
"a the theories upon which the cor
We ferees are proceeding. There Is
D..sW. -