NAVAL RATIO.

Taranaki Daily News, 16 December 1921, Page 5

NAVAL RATIO.

ACCEPTANCE BY JAPAN. REPORT FROM TOKIO. COMPLETING THE PLANS.. (From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Assn.) Received Dec. 15, 8 p.m. Washington, Dec. 15. According to a despatch Tokio has officially announced acceptance of the five-five-three naval ratio unconditionally.

Semi-official confirmation is available to-day of the statements cabled regarding the Japanese efforts to save the Mutsu. While agreeing to Mr. C. E. Hughes five-five-three plan the Japanese made certain proposals to “the Big Three,” for which the technical advisers had again to be called.. The proposals would involve Japan keeping the Mutsu and the Nagata, and the United States completing two of the newest battleships, England building two more, i with a corresponding reduction in the I tonnage of all three nations. Messrs. Hughes ad Balfour were anxious to meet Admiral Kato’s proposals, but the most complicated calculations are involved. Negotiations so far are tending towards an effort to keep the building programme down as far as possible. None of the schemes advanced to-date are quite satisfactory in this regard. Everything said by the American spokesman this afternoon bore out the early message regarding the satisfactory completion of the naval ratio. He declared progress was good. The questions remaining for settlement were rather matters of details than anything else. He hoped a definite statement would be made shortly. He indicated that the French and Italian ratio would not be a part of that statement, which would deal only with arrangements made by the three big Powers. MM. Tarrant and Jusserand to-day signed the Quadruple Treaty and the memorandum. Italy has laid down two modern propositions regarding naval limitation; first, that her navy must be as large as France’s, and second, the limit must be as low as possible. It is asserted in Italian circles that France has agreed to the first condition.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn. JAPAN’S FLEET. RETENTION OF THE MUTSUAN ADJUSTMENT MADE. Received Dec. 15, 11.10 p.m. Washington, Dec. 14. The Australian Press Association is able to state definitely that America has consented to the Japanese retaining the Mutsu after a prolonged conference yesterday between Mr. Hughes, Admiral Kato and Mr. Balfour. Japan’s acceptance of the ratio which, as cabled, arrived in Washington last ' week, was unconditional, but coupled with an earnest plea from Admiral Kato for the retention of the Mutsu. Because of the intense feeling, therefore, throughout Japan, Mr. Hughes was most sympathetic. Mr. Balfour assented, stipulating only that there was to be no change in the ratio and that Japan should scrap the older tonnage. To bal•ance the addition the United States will keep the 7 Colorado and West Virginia, two of the newest battleships, and Britain may build two supej-Hoods or adopt a new type of vessel falling within the 35,000 ton proviso in Mr. Hughes’ plan. The question is entirely a tech nical one and the new committee of fifteen mentioned the other day is meeting this afternoon to consider the matter The present position leans towards a new type, seeing that the super-Hoods will be a class by themselves.