New-York tribune., 1922-02-02
&. $. Proposal Agreed To
fn Detail, Hughes Declares
'ira Plan for Reduction OF
ornaments Accepted WiM
Only Minor Changes, He Saws

WASHINGTON. Feb. (By The As
ccatcd Press In his presentation
# tho naval limitation treaty at to-
lays plenary session. Secretary
Hughes declared that although there
mad been changes of detail with re-
spect to capital ships "thc plan pro-
posed on behalf Of the American gov
crnment has been maintained. and the
spirit in which that proposal was made
and in which it was received has domi-
mated the entire negotiations and
brought them to a very successful con-
ciusion." At some length he analyzcd
tho American proposal in comparison
with the final treaty agreement, saying,
n part;
ships to he retained by the United
States with q tonnage of 500,6
Ia this treaty the same ships are to be
retained In that proposal there was
set forth twenty two capital ships to
hc re tanned by the British Empire. Tn
der the treaty the same number Of
ships is to be retained; in fact. the
same ships. with tine single substitu-
tion OF the Thunderer for the Erin,
with tonnage of 580d5O, as against
the calculation in the proposal of 640,-
$50 tons for ships retained.
Japan Keeps Ten Ships
"ln the case of Japan. the proposal
set forth ten ships to be retained By
the treaty the same number Of ships is
10 be retained. the difference being that
the Mutsu is to he retained and the
Settsu is to be scrapped. The tonnage
retained by Japan as indicated in the
proposal, was 299, 100 The tonnage re-
tanned under the treaty is 3Ol 800
-Four general principles were stated
As the principles which. IN the opin-
ION of the American government the
limitation should be effected Those
were:
"' GD That all capital shipbuildinc
programs. either actual or projected
should be abandoned.
% That further reduction should
ne made through the scrappinc OF
certain of the older ships.
- 80 That in general regard should
he bad to the existing naval strength
of the powers concerned; and
"' (4 That the capital ship tonnage
should be used as the measurement of
strength for navics and q proportion
ate allowance of auxiliary combatant
craft prescribed
Exceptions Explained
Those principles have been applied
and govern the agreements set forth
IN the treaty with these exceptions:
That in the case of capital ship
building programs, all programs are
abandoned by the United States OF
America. the British Empire and Japan,
save FOR the completion of the two
ships of the West Virginia class in the
case OF the United States of America
and the building Of two ships as stated
n the case of the British Empire, upon
the completion Of which in the one case
tno of the old ships retained by the
United States are to be scrapped and IN
me other case four ships retained by
the British Empire are to be scrapped.
There is another exception in the
fact that there is no provision in the
treaty for the allowance of auxiliary
ombatant craft; but with respect to
the capital ship program it is in its
essence maintained and these princi |
,ies have been applied.
Let me further call your attention
o this-and I state it merely to avoid !
,ny possible public mlsapprehension !
md in order that discussion OF the /
.stter may proceed intcllIgently. II I
he proposal that I had rhe honor TO +
make on November II I said this:
1.-The United States proposes, if this !
,lsn is accepted
"'U) To scrap all capital ships now
'ader eonstrY ton This includes six !