Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-08-18
representatives of u.
S, Great Britain,
Japan, France and
Italy at Sim pie
Washington Cere-
mony-750,O0O Tons
Fighting Ships of
U. S. Due to Be
Strapped

Washington. Aug. Il (By A. p.)-
Seated about table in the State
Department today. five men re-
corded the final approval OF the
powers for the treaties drafted to
end naval competition and sweep
away the war clouds that have hov-
cred for decades over the Pacific.
1t was an epilogue to the Washing
ton negotiations at which it had
been planned to give the place of
honor TO President Harding, at
whose call the conference assemb-
led; but instead the formal deposit
Of ratihcations was performed al
most without ceremony. Secretary
Hughes and his colleagues met in
diplomatic reception room, in the
presence of only a handful of spec
tators, including officials of the de-
partment, messengers, and represen-
tatiyes of the press. Ambassador
Hanihara acted for Japan and the
other powers were represented by
the charges Of their embassies here,
H. o. Chiffon for Great Britain,
captain AUuLe lie Id Z, lOE
France, and Augusta Rosso, for
ITALY,
Mr.. Hughes sat at the head of the
table, with the foreign diplomats
facing each other at the sides.
Without preliminary. the secretary
stated the purpose of the gathering,
meeting in his office the ratifica-
lions had been examined and found
complete He then held up q paper
embodying the American ratifica-
ton, and placed it in the center of
the table.
81 herewith deposit the ratiflca-
tons of the United States" he said.
The others followed suit. each
pronouncng the same formula.
Then documents constituting a rec
ord Of the day and the hour at
which the treaties became effective
we're passed from hand to hand for
signature.
By pre- arrangemont. telephone
fash went to the navy department
at the moment the last name had
been written on the naval limitation
pact The ink had not dried on the
signatures before orders were speed
ing over the wires which meant the
striking OF 100000 tons IN fighting
ships, new and old, from the navS
list The process OF scrapping will
begin at once.
The process verbal which IS to
form permanent record OF the
coming into effect of the naval
treaty embodies the reservation
adopted by France, STIMULATING that
the $685. ratio established
among the five powers as to capital
ships cannot be construed as ap--
plying also to the smaller types OF
varcraft, likewise the mo alliance"
reservation adopted by the United
States senate denying any obliga-
ton TO use armed force under the
provisions OF the four power treaty,
was made a part of the process-ver-
hal by which tina pact was made ef-
fectiye. Termination OF the Anglo
Japanese alliance is automatic I'M
der the terms Of the four power
agreement
In addition to these. the ratifica-
tons also were exchanged on the
supplemental treaty, drawn up to
Clarity the terms of the fourpower
pact 1t declares that in binding
themselves to consult together over
controversies arising in the Pacific
the four signatories-the United
States Great Britain, Japan and
france-are not obligated to sub
nit for discussion any question
which lies exclusively within dom
este jurisdiction.
The scrappins Of war craft which
VIII begin Immediately under the
naval treaty viii, be carried out by
inherent means for the various ships
tCcnsinued on Page 3-Col. 81