The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1921-12-03
RESULT OF
CONFERENCE
IN DOUBT
Unless England Backs
United States on
Limitation Of Naval
Armament J ap a n
Will Defeat Whole
Plan

Washington, Nov % (By the AS
sociated Press) The Washington
arms conference is approaching its
first great decision. It was an
nounced tonight by Vice Admiral
Kato, chief of the Japanese naval
experts, that Japan seeks a 10 per
cent. naval ratio. At the same time
it was announced with equal au-
thority that the American delega-
ton, stood firmly on Secretary
Hughes "5-5-3'' ratio proposal,
which means a 60 per cent. status
for Japan. The conference ulti-
mately must reconcile the two
views or accept one or the other
to reach agreement on naval linli-
tations.
Vice Admiral Kato said the 70
per cent ratio was the minimum
necessary for japanese security
The American view is that 60
per cent. for Japan is the maxi
mum naval strength that could be
accepted in view of American lie
bilities in the Pacific.
Tomorrow the naval experts of
the five powers will hold their first
meeting in nearly week. They
have concluded their intergroup
discussion OF the American plan SO
far as its major factors are con-
cerned. Developments today and
tonight indicated that they would
return the matter to the confer
ence delegates without recommen-
dations for important notifications.
The American experts are salts
fed that the original estimates of
naval strength on which the
Hughes plan was based were cor
rect. What form the committee re-
port may take is not clear. Pre-
sunlably the British officers are in
accord with the American view in
many respects. The attitude Of
French and Italian experts has not
been formally disclosed.
Yet there was some indication
that action by the committee Of ex-
perts to sustain the American es-
innate Of naval facts and figures
was expected. Whether the Japa-
nese experts would submit minor
ity views in that case was not
known
In any event it seems likely that
the scene Of action will be trans
ferred in the week from experts to
the committee room where the del
egates Of the five powers must
weigh questions Of policies as well
as of facts.
Presumably the japanese group
is prepared to continue its argu-
rnent there for "10-10-7" fleec
ratio instead of the American "5-
SIS" proposal. To what extent
japanese insistence may be carried
in committee and later before the
conference itself. however, is still
to be disclosed.
Vice Admiral Kato in his state
ment declared that the 70 per cent.
ratio was the minimum of strength
required for Japan's security. He
added this comment:
People Of all countries must be
in full agreement Gas to limitation
of armament); otherwise, even
though an agreement may be made.
it might create an unpleasant feel
ing and defeat its purpose.
For competent American naval
opinion it may be said with au-
thority, although high officers can
not be quoted directly, that the 9
SIS" proposal is viewed as the alb
solute maximum Of concession to
Japan in view of American inter-
est and liabilities in the Pacific. Ma
val opinion here holds that actual
security would require a "10-3"
ratio as against Japan owing to
distances, probable causes Of con-
tict and similar matters
For that reason, the American
"5-5-3" program is viewed as
not only a written assurance Of
utter lack Of any American pur-
pose in the Pacific inimical to le-
gitinate Japanese interests but as
an assumption of a similar friend
~ attitude on the part of Japan. On
no other theory, to naval officers.
would the proposal be warranted,
backed as i is by the offer to scrap
or discontinue more than twice the
amount of new tonnage Japan is
asked to abandon.
Reference by Vice Admiral Kato
to Japan's limited steel output and
ship building facilities as warrant
ing her desire for 70 per cent
feet status recalled the original
view taken Of Secretary Hughes
- ..5-5-3" ratio proposal That
ratio, ii is asserted. goes far beyond
any attempt at the almost impos-
Sible task Of setting down in figures
estimates of naval strength rela-
lively. 1t is based or the whole
situation of the two powers chiefly
concerned. 1t includes some allow
ance for American ship building re-
sources in the estimate of the rel
atiEe strength at sea. officers say.
for that as we'll as each battleship
now alloat has its place in fixing Il
fair naval proportion not subject
to suspicion as cloakinG hostile de-
signs.
In other words these officers con-
tend, the United States could build
and maintain against Japan two
to one or even a three to one scale
if it desired. If it is to abandon
that advantage, they add, to end