SMALLER NAVIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 6 December 1921, Page 5

SMALLER NAVIES.

JAPAN ACCEPTS RATIO. SACRIFICE FOR PEACE. THE SAVING WELCOMED. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. London, Dec. 3. The special representative of the Australian Press Association at the Washington Conference says: “I am in a position to state that the five-five-three proportion has been accepted by the Japanese delegation and most probably will be acceptable to the Tokio authorities. The relativity of the proportion is maintained, though each of the three Powers will increase the actual number of capital ships. “The conditions for the five-five-three proportion are as follows: Japan retains the Mutsu, which is 98 per cent, completed. This in turns means that the British will build two ships of the Hood type, for which the material is now assembled, representing 10 per cent, completion, and the United States will complete two Mary lands, GO per eent. of the work on which has been done.

“These steps are necessary in order to retain the five-five-three ratio. This arrangement necessarily modifies the ten years’ naval holiday programme, in so far as it permits Britain and America to complete the ships mentioned above.”

Tokio, Dec.. 3. It is understood on good authority that the Government cabled Baron

Kato to accept Mr. Hughes’ naval ratio. Japan is willing to make the sacrifice involved for the sake of peace in the Pacific. The Government instructed Baron Kato to try to secure an American agreement to the reduction of fortifications in Hawaii and the Philippines. The announcement of the Japanese naval promotions to-day mentions no admiral for the second squadron, which will be eliminated as Japan’s first step towards naval limitations. The Press accepts the situation gladly, pointing out that the 200 million yen which will be saved on the navy can be better spent in other directions. SUBMARINE PROBLEM. NO ACTION EXPECTED. BRITAIN MAY PROTEST. Received Dec. 6, 12.5 a.in. Washington, Dec. 4. Another treaty between Britain, the United States and Japan will embody the naval agreement on the five-five-three ratio, though possibly this may be modified in favor of one instrument covering the whole range of agreements regarding naval matters.

It is not thought likely that Britain will gain her point respecting submarines. Probably Mr. Balfour will make a formal protest at the next plenary session, recording the British view, and giving notice that Britain will build to her utmost limit in chasers and submarine defences generally, and moreover will regard submarines as pirates in the event of another naval war. This will place the onus of counting submarines as a naval weapon on the United States, which finds itself in a very delicate position.—<Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.