Evening journal., 1922-01-04
AGREES
ON METHOD OF
SHIP SCRAPPING
fcnnllnned From First Page.l }


rendered incapable OF war-like pur-
poses within six months and are tol
be entirely scrapped with is months
after the completion OF the construc-
tion OF the replacement tonnage.
The ships are to be scrapped byl
the various powers in whatever way
they desire. within certain prescribed
Limitation.
Also within Limitation the powers
will be allowed to keep some OF the
ships for other than naval purposes
II they have been rendered com
pletely incapable for war use.
In addition to these provisions
each Of the powers Is TO be allowed
to keep three ~ its capital ships for
/ limited naval service. These ships
are one battleship. or battle cruiser.
stripped OF armor and machinery
but with two gun turrets and firing
control loft, to be used for target
practice; one battleship or battle
cruiser. stripped of all armaments TO
be used as a mobile target such as
the old battleship Iowa was recently
used under wireless control; and one
more capital ship, likewise stripped
OF army and throttling machinery to
be used as a naval barracks.
The new plan allows a longer time
for scrapping than did the original
Hughes naval proposals which called
on the three powers TO have their
navies stripped down to the required
limit in capital ships three months
after the making OF the agreement.
The replacement agreement is In
the form OF chart, providing for
the exact periods at which each ma
ion can start rebuilding. This makes
provision for competitions by the
/ United States. new construction by
/ Britain and is understood, in gem
eral to meet the wishes OF France
for an opportunity 10 start replace
ments before the close OF the holl-
day. though the spokesman declined
to say whether France was allowed
to start in 1927 as requested.
II Is understood that methods ap-
proved for scrapping the big battle
ships call for the use OF the steel
and other metals in them in peace
time pursuits.
Secretary OF state Hughes called
on President Harding today and af-
| ,rwards announced he believed the
conference would wind up in about
three weeks.
While il had been previously in
dictated that the French would make
their acceptance OF the Root pro-
lposal conditional upon an agreement
that merchant ships should not be
armed. a British spokesman said his
group and the Americans now under
stood that such a string was not at
tacked. though he could not an.
nounce that with absolute positive
ness.
The japanese and Italians so fai
as the British delegation was inform
ed had not yet received a reply OF
. the Root resolution.
As for the 10000 ton limit fol
cruisers, Il was said. that no diff
= hculty is anticipated on that score
+. France evidently having acquiesced
d on the far Eastern side Of the con
[ ference. the tariff committee. il wa
. announced. had agreed upon an ef
S fective five per cent. customs rat,
e for the Chinese TO be put into opera
. ton by the permanent tariff boart
b in China.
r This is an upward revision. help.
q ful 20 China, which Is subject tc
; further alteration. The Chinese
while not wholly satisfied with thi.
development. nevertheless hailed II
as a step IN the right direction"
3 Meantime. the China-Japanese
1 situation has reached delicate
9 stage
The Chinese served notice they
= would not sign the nine power
8 treaty provided il ratines existing
commitments. They will regard tn,
b conference though as having hal
some achievements II the shantuni
g question can be Strengthened out.
o Indications are the Shantung ne
gotiations viii be resumed soon
d without mediation by Hughes o.
Balfour.