Sioux County pioneer., 1921-11-24
HUGHES REVEALS
NAVAL POLICY
Would Junk Sixty.Six Ships and
Stop Building Until
Year 1881.
MEANS Immediate ECONOMY

OuS00 SIaSGo 10 6QOds 0TtIdJO W tN0W
Craft, Japan to Rank Third
$26o.ooo,ooo Saved Public
Washington, Nov. 14.-Sweeping re-
duction. Of the present naval arma-
ments. and stern limitation to follow,
by Great Britain, Japan and the
United States, was the proposition laid
before the international conference
here by Secretary Hughes. 1t is
concrete proposal to abandon construc-
tiOn of capital ships now being built
and to scrap scores of old fighting
ships involving nearly 100000 tons in
the United States, British and Japan
ese navies, lifted the opening session
Of the disarmament-Pacific conference
far above the plane of any previous
congress of the nations ever held.
Actually before the delegates to the
international conference were aware
Of what was happening secretary
Hughes, true to his promise, had laid
the cards of Uncle Sans hand face
up on the table.
The effect Of the unexpected move
was heightened by the spontaneous
Endorsement Of the executive proposals
on the spot by the legislative branch
Of the American government. The
senators, who occupied one balcony,
and the representatives, who were in
another, simultaneously arose as Mr..
Hughes concluded presentation of the
reduction program and loosed q tor
rent of applause.
Hugo Saving From the Start.
1t is pointed out that the proposals
mean in the direct, immediate matter
Of economy to the American people a
saving of $26O,OOO.OOO through the
scrapping Of the Is capital ships now
building. 1t would cost that sum to
complete them. Already $685., 100000
has been spent on them.
j. Here's the American Plan.
The American proposals summarized
follow:
!. The United States, Great Britain
and Japan agree to navy building
holiday for ten years, during which
time no new ships shall be built.
2. All uncompleted capital ships and
numerous specific older capital ships
to be scrapped at once.
8. All building programs, either ac-
tual or projected, to be abandoned ut
once.
4. The sea power Of the three ma
fN 1,o mn Oip,fo inn.l -
tonnage parity between the American
and the British navies and Of Jap
anese navy of three-fifths the tonnage
of either of the others.
5. The capital ship to be the unit of
measurement Of naval strength and
proportionate allowance of auxiliary
craft to be prescribed.
Size Of requirements.
6. The size of the capital ships built
for Replacement shall be limited to 25,-
600 tons, compared with 10000 tons,
the maximum now building, and ag-
gregate capital ship tonnage is to be
limited to 100000 each for England
and the United States and 3OO,O 700 for
Japan.
Z. Auxiliary cruisers and destroyers,
the keels of which have been already
laid, to be completed, but requirements
to be on basis Of a maximum 45O, 600
tons each for England and the United
States and 10000 tons for Japan.
8. Same provision for submarines
with the maximum tonnage 10000
each for England and the United
States and $4,000 for Japan.
8. Total tonnage of airplane carriers
to be limited to $4,000 each for Eng
land and the United States and $4,000
for Japan.
10. Only capital ships and airplane
carriers 20 years old. cruisers II
years old. and destroyers and SUBJ
marines u years old may be replaced
No Limit on Naval Aircraft.
II. Limitation of naval aircraft
deemed impracticable because of easy
converting of commercial aircraft tn
war uses.
IL. Conversion of merchant marine
to warships to be regulated by agree.
ment.
13. No ships to be built for or dis
posed of to other nations.
BRITISH EDITORIAL OPINION.
London. Nov. 14.-The London
Times says in an editorial: president
Harding Of the United States set the
right note for the Washington confer
ence when he assured the delegates
that he welcomed them not alone for
their high purpose, but for their high
faith II that faith be strong enough,
general enough, and continuous enough
In the masses Of the people whose Wills
are the force behind the conference,
clinur iMnneAce ~, rnaae