The New York herald., 1922-01-31
America Retains Right to
Fortify Hawaii-Status
Quo in Philippines.
BONN GROUP RESTRICTED
Islands Adjacent to Canada,
Australia and New Zealand
May Be Armed. M
BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.
Special Dispatch TO THE NEW YoaK HEaALS.
New York Hernld Bureau.l
Washington. ID. c.. Jan. 20.

New York Hernld Bureau,
Washington. ID. c.. Jan. 20.
The drafting experts of the inter-
no;ional conference are reducing to
final form the most important diplo-
matte instrument ever negotiated
among civilized nations.
This document, which defines tho
size. limitations. scope and uses of sea
arnamspts, will be submitted to a
plsnary session of the conference on
Wednesday morning.
The treaty. which binds the United
States, Great Britain, France. Italy and
Japan TO reduce and regulate their
naval forces in accordance with tho
limitation Of sea, armaments, was
finally agreed to this afternoon. The
announcement that the five leading
naval Powers Of the world had reached
a complete understanding regarding
naval craft was received with great
qualification by officials OF this and
other Governments who contributed to
the momentous decision.
While the American delegation de-
cined TO predict the probable date for
winding up the conference there IS
reason to believe the treaty providing
!. new charter for China will be ready
for submission to what viii probably
be the final public session of the con-
ference at the end of the present week.
Preparing To Go Homo.
The delegations representing Great
Britain. France, Italy. Japan. Belgium.
Holland, Portugal and China. which
have been cooperating with this coun-
try in its efforts TO discourage future
wars, are already preparing to depart
for home. They believe the Shantung
controversy. which stands In the way
of an acceptable solution regarding
Asiatic affairs. will come TO an end
within the next forty-eight hours AMI
permit the completion Of the treaty
by which the eight Powers will agree
to extend a helping hand to demor-
allied China.
The naval treaty will run 1f'
years and embrace twenty g~i-
clcs, which will set fort'l ilo ruuocr.
size, tonnage. arr roDt ui c1l.r
ment of capital fs,auuc sht,o. crlser,
torpedo hoats. destroyer and ofhsr
type ~ auxiliary craft including air
~rarf ra--ic-s. and WITH even regulate
tnr arinau-en-g uf vr1narines, ral-
hrlrh 10 Viu nci ait the aggregate
toanage cwe. each nation because
oil lions raised by the French
Go .nent.
In almost every other respect the
naval agreement will follow closely the
Limitation of sea armaments asked BY
Secretary Hughes at the opening ses-
sion OF the conference. Most OF tho
important details regarding agree
ments on units and types which win
be allowed to each nation during the
life of the treaty have been set forth
I'm the communicates issued by tho
committee on naval armaments during
the last two months.
Ratio Of Capital ships.
The $3.50 ratio OF capital ships pro-
vided by the Hughes formula will be
precisely the same as that in the
American suggestion. with the excep-
ton that Japan Is permitted TO retain
the superdreadnought Mutsu. which
during her life will be the largest
fighting ship ever built.
The last feature of the naval treaty
10 be completed and approved at tho
final session of the flve Power commit
tee on arnaments was that relating 10
Notifications In the Pacific. In an
nouncing the acceptance of II by the
five Powers the American delegation
this afternoon disposed of many OF tho
false reports printed in newspapers re-
garding the exact questions nt issue.
For ono thing. they made IL per-
fectly clear that this country never
for a minute had considered surrcnder-
ing its right to include the Hawaiian
Islands in the homeland OF America OF
OF forfeiting its privilege TO fortifv
them I'm any way deemed essential TO
national security. The American dcie-
CATION further declared there never
have been any serious differences OF
opinion over the features OF the treaty
relating to fortiications.
The fortiications feature OF the new
naval treaty will be known as Article
49, Under the terms of IL the United
States. the British Empire and Japan
agree that the status quo with regard
10 Notifications and naval bases shall
be maintained for fifteen years in the
respective territories and possessions.
The United States agrees not to ex-
tend it's fortifications in any territory
In the Pacific except those adjacent TO I
the coast of the United States. Alaska
tho Panama Canal Zone and the Hnj
wsiian Islands. all of which are i9
ciuded in it's continental territorial pd
sessions II agrees not to FORTY 4