New-York tribune., 1921-11-30
ENJOYS Informed Amer
lea Could Make 10
Ratio Impossible Be
cause of Building Power
Convincing Figures
Used in Argument
Put Plainly That at This
Time This Nation Is 100
to 50 Ahead of Nippon
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Nov. 20. - The
smashing argument by which Japan has
been driven to accept the five-fve-
three ratio, or an agreement to main
tain her battle fleet at not more than
so per cent of the American or British
feet, was made known to-day by a
spokesman for the American delega-
tion.
Here is list of facts which were
calmly and politely laid before the
Japanese when they protested that the
ratio should really be 10 to z, and
therefore should be made that instead
of 10 to 6:
The. United States is more than able
to maintain-by the brute force of
pouring money into big battleship con-
struction-the present ratio between
the American and Japanese battle
fleets. The present ratio is not an even
5 to 3, such as is proposed in the
American plan. 1t is much closer to
5 to 2h. Japan has been given more
than the best Interpretation of any
conceivable method of estimating the
present ToIaC1Vc SCTeNRCnS.
About 100 to As Now
Going into details, the Americans
pointed out to the Japanese, after care
fully disclosing all the figures which
entered into the calculations, that if
the present ratio should be determined
on the basis of keels laid and ships
under construction it would be 100 for
the Americans and As for the japanese.
On the other hand, if the amount Of
money spent is to be the unit Of meas
ure the ratio would be 100 for the
Americans and IS for the Japanese.
Of ships under construction should be
taken it would result in 100 for the
Americans and 40 for the Japanese.
Again, considering the older ships,
if the pre-dreadnoughts are to be
counted, the ratio becomes 100 for the
Americans and 55 for the Japa-
nese, but even if the Japanese are al
lowed to keep all their old ships, while
all American ships of greater age
than twenty years are thrown out of
the calculation, the ratio is still 100
to SO.
This last figure, obviously more
than fair to Japan, was taken, and the
ratio increased from 100 to So,
making the 5-5-3 plan,
"Of course, if we get talking about
national needs" said the American
spokesman, "there is a great deal to
say. Great Britain as an island king
dom, with possessions all over the
world, must be protected. The United
States has two coasts, with a divided
fleet. The ratio of z to 10 is very
extravagant one.
"The proposal of the United States
was based on the fundamental pro-
vision to stop where we are. If two or
three are in race and one says you
stop and let me get ahead ten yards
the whole scheme has been destroyed.
"The question is one principally of
what existing strength may be. There
arc several roads to take, but all lead
to the same destination.
"They say, Leave out those ships in
the course of construction. But no.
We must count what we give up. We
will have spent 1892 100000, and that
must enter into our calculations. They
could be completed quickly if they
had to be.
Well Within Ratio
"From any point of view, taking the
percentage of ships constructed, we
are we'll within the ratio. We took
very liberal figure by making it
ten to- six. 1t is the outside estimate
on any basis conceivable of figuring
the, existing strength. If we 60 on
with the existing situation it will con-
tinue to exist. We have made fine,
generous offer on the basis Of relatively.
An attack on the ratio is destructive
of the fundamental principle. 1t
strikes at the basis of the proposal.
These are fundamental facts. They
will stand any kind of examination"
AS has been said time after time in
The Tribune's Washington dispatches,
the American determination is to stop
(Contlnued an nsrt nauaY