Evening star., 1922-01-04
P[ENARY SESSION
EXPECTED FRIDAY
Program for Reduction of
of Naval Armament to Be
Announced.
HOLDS STRIDES TO PEACE
Agreement Will Fall Short Of
Fondest Hopes, But Will Show
Real Progress.
BY JUNIUs b. WOOD.

A plenary session Oh tne ConleTeuCc,
the first since December 10, is planned
for Friday 1t is to announce the
program for the reduction OF naval
armament The general principles
have been agreed upon and the final
details are practically completed.
Five powers are concerned In the
agreement which will be presented.
AS they are the principal naval
powers of the world, Its effect will
be practically universal.
Great Stride Toward Peace.
Though the agreement in its final
form will fall short of the drastic
reduction called for by the American
program, 1t will be great stride
toward world peace and an end OF
the present naval race 1t is far
greater than the most sanguine
dreamed the powers would assent to
two months ago The reductions pro-
posed by Secretary Hughes, however,
were so sweeping that new goal
was set with the opening OF the con, con-
was impossible, considering the vary
ing needs of the different powers.
What has been accomplished Is close
to that goal, more than a mere De-
ginning, and what remains unoone
can be accomplished easier now that
the world thought and progress has
been turned toward peace.
For capital ships ratio OF o-o-S-
1.67-167 has been agreed upon pc
tween Great Britain, Unlteo states,
Japan, France. and Italy. The quota
for Great Britain and "A America mas
the 500, 900 proposed in the program
and the tonnage for the other nations
is proportionate.
What Has Been Achieved.
The ten-year naval holiday in re-
spect to them has been agreed upon,
except that France shall be permit
ted to build a specified limited num-
ber and Great Britain to build the
two Hoods of $4,000 tpns each:
Auxiliary ships and light cruisers
are to be limited to 10000 tons each,
with major batteries not exceeding
eight inches. The two larger naval
powers agreed to limit themselves to
100000 tons of these, and the others
will be limited by their financial ne.
cessities. France insists on $4,000
tons.
In submarines, Great Britain, Japan
and the United States agree to limit
themselves to 10000 tons and France
reserves the right to build an equal
tonnage if the occasion warrants.
to be 5-5-3-2.22-2.22. with a maximum
of $4,000 tons for the two larger
powers and a maximum of $4,000
tons for any single ship.
Increases Over Original Plan.
In each classification there is an
increase over the original proposals.
Regardless of the criticisms which
have been aroused against the vari-
Gus powers. chiefly France and
a nan which have nr0nOSo6 the mod
if1cations to the proposals. the fact
remains that the United States Is not
injured by the changes which have
been made in it's own program, and,
II anything. the American Navy il
strengthened.
The change in the allowance of cap
ital ships was made chiefly as re-
suit of the insistence OF Japan that
the new Mutsu. which has already
been put into commission. should not
be scrapped. At the same time the
United States is enabled to fetain two
almost completed superdreadnaughts
instead of two of the old ships which
it was proposed to retain. and which
would have been obsolete before the
ing the building Of new ships to take
the place Of the almost completed
ones being scrapped. Great Britain
must go to the expense of building
two Hoods which have not been
started.
U. 8. Gains by French Proposal.
Frances refusal to accept the sub
marine program also reacted to the
benefit Of the American Navy. The
American naval plan called for the
largest submarine of any power. In
stead Of reducing it to $4,000 tons, as
the United States was willing to do, it
remains at 10000 tons, a scant 5000
tons less than was originally planned.
The same stand of France also
saves the United States from having
a Navy, practically devoid of fast
cruisers. Great Britain has
that if France insists ON
a large submarine fleet she must be
given a free hand in building counter
defense craft. The United States has
the privilege Of equaling the British
feet in every branch and will have
the opportunity of building the cruis-
ers and scout ships which her Navy
now lacks.
The United States was ready to
make all the reductions called for in
her program, even though the blow
would fall harder on her Navy than
on that Of any other power. That
the others refused to make these
American naval officer. for the United
States will continue to have a navy
with its proper quota of superdread-
naughts, cruisers, submarines, de-
stroyers and other craft. 1t will be
much smaller than contemplated, but
the navies Of the other powers also
will be smaller, and it will be suffi-
cient for our national needs and ma
tional resources.
Copyright, 1927