SECRETARY HUGHES PRESENTS AMERICAN PROPOSAL FOR 10 YEAR NAVAL HOLIDAY
Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 12, 1921, the United States proposed "a clear cut...program for cutting the British, Japanese and American navies to the bone and holding them there during a ten-year naval holiday."
The proposal was read by Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes at the first meeting of the Conference on the Limitation of Armament held here in Washington.
Under the proposal, all new ship construction will cease and every battleship and battle cruiser now under construction will be scrapped.
W.O. McGeehan writes that the diplomats present at the conference were "astonished" by the proposal.
SOURCES
"Hughes Fires Audience With Vivid Powers," by W.O. McGeehan, The New York Tribune, November 13, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
"United States Proposes 10-Year Naval Holiday; Would Scrap 66 Capital Ships, 30 American," by Carter Field, The New York Tribune, November 13, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
