EUROPEAN NAVIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17965, 15 December 1921, Page 7

EUROPEAN NAVIES.

AGREEMENT REPORTED.

EQUALITY WITH JAPAN. CONFERENCE NEARING END. By Telegraph—Preas Association-Copyright. A., and N.Z.. WASHINGTON. Dec. 13. The.special representative of the Australian and New Zealand Press Association learns to-night from trustworthy sources that the naval ratio of the five chief Powers has been practically agreed to on the basis that France and Italy shall be accorded in principle the right to the same capital-ship tonnage as Japan, making the proportions five, five, three, three, three. It is not expected that either France or Italy will build up to this tonnage, as the tonmrre of both omntri<" ; » now much below that figure. It is probable that in practice their tonnage will be something nearer to 250,000, perhaps less. It is stated Britain is not averse to this ratio, though it was felt at one time that such a preponderating tonnage possessed by two other European Powers, both commanding the Suez route, might be considered a threat to her. This refers only to the capital ship ratio, that of submarines and auxiliary craft is still awaiting settlement.

Though other meetings of Mr. Balfour, Mr. Hughes, and Admiral Kato will be necessary before the naval ratio question is finalised, the omens, said the British spokesman to-day, are still favourable. He bases his optimism as much on advices he has received from London as on developments at the conference. It looks as though the discussion now concerns the retention of the Mutsu, the problem of the naval holiday and outlying fortifications. As has been pointed out, the retention of the Mutsu by Japan means rearrangment of the plans for a naval holiday to enable the building of ships of equal power by Britain and the United States.

There is every indication now that all the major points of tho conference will be completed before Christmas. These are seven in number, of which two—th* Pacific Treaty and the Yap Conventionare already out of the way.

Among the questions to be finalised is the treaty between Japan and China, covering the Shantung dispute and the 21 demands. It is hoped that a satisfactory settlement is arising out of the present conversations.

The naval agreement of the five Powers is now well on its way to adjustment, and a further understanding about advanced napl bases in the Pacific may take the form of a v treaty between Britain, the United States, and Japan. Lastly are to come, an eight-Power tretay in respect of the policy and integrity of China, based on the principles adopted by the Far Eastern Committee, and a declaration by China never to make a treaty alienating territory or in conflict with these principles. These last two may be combined into a nine-Power treaty.

HOSTILE NOTE IN JAPAN. | anglo.saxon domination. (Received 7.40 p-m.) Renter. TOKIO, Deo. 13. It is reported that the decision of the Japanese Government to accept the naval ratio unconditionally has elicited severe denunciations from the Yorozu Choho and Kokumin Shimbun, the leading Government organs. Both characterise the agreement as a Japanese surrender, and denounce the Administration for submitting to the United States, The Kokumin' Shimbun says that the insistence of the United States on such a small ratio for Japan indicates a future plan to threaten and overpower Japan. Tho Yorozu Choho declares that naval limitation is part of a long-standing scheme for AngloSaxon domination of Asiatics, which lias now succeeded. It concludes: " Japan no longer has a right to interfere in world matters, not even in the Far East." '