SMALLER NAVIES

Taranaki Daily News, 17 December 1921, Page 5

SMALLER NAVIES

AGREEMENT MADE. THREE BIG POWERS. RATIO AGREED UPON. A NAVAL HOLIDAY, By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyrigtt Received Dec. 16, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Dec. 15. Mr. C. E. Hughes (head of the American delegation) to-day officially announced the completion of an agreement between Britain, the United States and Japan on the question of the naval ratio. The proposal for a five-five-three ratio has been accepted. It was agreed that fortifications and naval bases in the Pacific, including Hong Kong, should remain in their status quo, but this does not apply to Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand and Japan proper. The Japanese battleship Mutsu is retained and the Setsu scrapped. The United States keeps the Colorado and the Washington, but scraps the Delaware and the North Dakota. Britain will build two ships of the Royal Sovereign class, not exceeding 35,000 tons, and will scrap the King George, the Erin, the Ajax and the Centurion when the two new ships are completed. A naval holiday will be maintained, except for the United States and British ships mentioned. The arrangement is dependent on a suitable agreement being reached with France and Italy with respect to their capital ships.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn. DETAILS OF AGREEMENT. STRENGTH IN CAPITAL SHIPS. LIMITING PACIFIC DEFENCES. Received Dec. 17, 12.20 a.m. Washington, Dec. 15. Official: Mr. Hughes said the following points of agreement were reached in the course of the negotiations between the United States, Britain and Japan in respect to their capital fighting ships: Agreement was reached between the three Powers on the subject of the naval ratio proposal of the American Government, that ratio to be five-five-three. It was agreed in respect to fortifications and naval bases in the Pacific region, including Hong Kong,, that the status quo be maintained—that is, that there be no increases in these fortifications and naval bases, except that this restriction shall not apply to the Hawaiian Islands, Australia, New Zealand and the islands composing Japan proper, or the coasts of ’the United States and Canada, as to which the respective Powers retain entire freedom. The Japanese Government found special difficulty in respect to the Mutsu, as that was their newest ship. In order to retain the Mutsu Japan has proposed scrapping the Setsu, an older ship. This will leave the number of Japan’s capital ships the same (ten) as originally proposed, with an increase in tonnage to 313,300, against 299,700.

FORTS IN THE PACIFIC. RE-ARRANGING BRITISH FLEET. DISCUSSION PROCEEDING. Received Dec. 16, 10.40 p.m. Washington, Dec. 15. It was revealed to-day that the negotiations on the naval ratio were also concerned with the fortifications in the Pacific, the suggestion being that these remain in status quo. Both the United States and Japan are contemplating incrMsing their fortifications at several points in the western Pacific. No decision has yet been arrived at in the matter of whether these are to be left as they are, but discussion is proceeding. The assumption is that Britain is faced with two alternatives —to meet the modifications of Mr. Hughes’ plan, already outlined, to build two superHoods; or two battleships of different type. If the former is chosen, her tonnage will be increased above the actual ratio, though this actuality is provided for in Mr. Hughes’ figures, owing to considerations of the age of the vessels in commission and their rough handling during the war. If the latter vessels would bo of the improved Royal Sovereign class, the difficulties of the problem would be accentuated by the fact of Britain’s geographical position necessitating capital ships to be built heavier, more for defence against submarine and air attacks, to which they are peculiarly liable in British waters. Therefore the battleship is more suitable than battle-cruisers. If super-Hoods are built four dreadnoughts and one battle-cruiser may possibly have to be scrapped; if Royal Sovereigns, then only four dreadnoughts will be sacrificed. It is now considered likely that a decision will be arrived at to-day or tomorrow.

It j s re P ort ed that Japan has defined her position in regard to the Chinese request for the Conference to examine the twentyone demands. Japan does not see any good reason for reopening the discussion, regarding the 1915 treaty as an accomplished fact. Herein Japan’s attitude is consistent with her position regarding Manchuria, where she maintains she is established in legitimately acquired territory, for which she paid in blood and treasure. FINAL DIFFICULTIES. JAPAN AND THE MUTSU. Washington, Dec. 14. A delayed message from Tokio says that it is officially stated that Japan's acceptance of the five-five-three naval programme makes as a condition her retention of the Mutsu. It is .understood that the only thing now standing between a settlement of the naval ratio question is the type of vessel allotted to under the modification. ' Mr. Hughes does not want to see a super-Hood built, because it would exceed the tonnage of 35.000 tons, which is the maximum allowed under his plan.Britain is logically entitled to this type, because it represents the latest development of her navy, as the Mutsu and Colorado do for .Japan and the United States respectively. But it, U doubtful

whether it would be advantageous to build this type. They would be the last allowed, and all docking and repair facilities would have to be altered to fit their requirements, whereas no other ship built hereafter would want them, therefore it is possible Britain may decide to accept Mr. Hughes’ view.