Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-17

tons more in cruisers and $4,000 tons
more In destroyers.
The obstacle here remains-.Japan.
The American delegation still insists
that agreement with Japan Is now GER
tain. 1t has always been certain, pro-
vided the United States and Great
Britain accepted the japanese claims,
but Japan Is reluctant to accept the
proposed British tonnage increase, has
not yet accepted and has shown no i'm
mediate intention of accepting the lat
est American compromise proposals.
There is every reason to believe that
France and Japan are working sympa-
thetically here. It is known that the
French and the Japanese had long
talk on Saturday. 1t is said that If
the French finally cease talking fig
ureS with Great Britain-that is, II a
five-power agreement on tonnage Is
abandoned-then Japan will cease talk
ing compromise proposals with the
United States and will stand out for
the satisfaction of its claims in full as
the price of the three-power agreement,
which Great Britain and the United
States are known ardently to desire.
Two Alternative Proposals.
There has been considerable confusion
over the terms of our latest compromise
proposals to Japan. 1t has been learned
that this confusion is due to the fact
that there were at least two alternative
proposals. The first is as follows:
Eight-inch gun cruisers-The United
States would have 10000 tons, but
would reserve the right to transfer 3d.
900 tons into the six-inch-gun cruiser
class at will; Japan would have 108, 400
tons.
Six-inch gun cruisers-The United
States, lat 900 TONS: Japan, 10000 tons.
DeStroyers-The United States, $780,
600 tons; Japan 1880 tons.
Submarines-Parity at $4,000 tons.
Japan's total ratio would be 81 per
cent.
The Japanese objection here is the
uncertainty about our transfer of 10000
tons in the cruiser class, the low total
in submarines and the fact that 81
per cent ratio does not meet their 10
per cent claim.
RumOr Says Both Declined.
The alternative is as follows
Eight-inch gun cruiSerS-The United
States, 10000 tons, but only $780, 900
tons would be actually built within the
life of the present treaty-that Is, prior
to 1895; Japan, 108, 400 tons.
Six-inch gun cruiSers-The United
States, lat 900 tons; Japan, 100, 900 tons
Destroyers-The United States, $780,
900 tons; Japan, los 900 tons.
Submarines-Parity at $4,000 tons.
This gives Japan a ratio of go per
cent, but Japan objects because Of the
even lower figure in submarines and
because of the uncertainty about our
big cruisers Immediately after 1885.
1t Is rumored here today that the
Japanese government has just declined
both Of these offers.
Grandi Asked for Figures.
The Franco British conversations yes
| terday are understood to have covered
thoroughly all the grounds of the
divergence between the two countries.
1t is felt that this examination of diff
ficulties may lead to finding q way
out.
This morning Great Britain once
more made q demarche to the italian
headquarters and begged Foreign Min
| figures. Sig. Grand replied that he
had firm orders from Premier Mussolini
not to do so.
"You only want me to put down fig
ures," he added, 80 that you can give
! France a larger tonnage than Italy
| This is impossible"
He repeated that the only concession
| Italy could make would be parity in
ships built and building of actual fight
| ing value, giving France an apparent
advantage in ships which have passed
| the age limit.
In these circumstances it seems prob
able that a joint Franco-B British de-
marche in Rome to MuSsolini himself
| is now only a question of hours.