American Colorado-class
Japanese Mutsu
An item referred to the discussions between Hughes(1), Balfour (2) and Kato (3) a day earlier about the naval strength of the major naval powers dealing with the ratio 5:5:3 and the issue if Japan was allowed to keep the battle cruiser Mutsu. A correspondent at Washington, USA confirmed that Japan was allowed to keep the Mutsu (4) and as a result the USA the battle cruisers Colorado (5) and Washington(6). Dealing with the strongholds in the Pacific was decided to maintain the status quo excluding Japan, Hawaii, Australia and New Zealand. The Chinese representatives asked officially to repeal treaty of 1915.(7)
Notes
1. Charles Evans Hughes (11 April 1862 Glens Falls, New York, USA-27 August 1948 (Osterville, Massachusetts, USA), Secretary of States 1921-1925 and Republican politician.
2. Arthur James Balfour 1st Earl of Balfour (25 July 1848 Whittingehame House, East Lothian, Scotland-19 March 1930 Fishers Hill House, Woking, Surrey, England), at that moment Lord President of the Council, earlier prime minister and first lord of the admiralty.
3. Viscount Kato Tomosaburo (22 February 1861 Hiroshima, Japan-24 August 1923 Tokyo, Japan), prime minister of Japan 12 June 1922-24 August 1923 and served in the Japanese navy 1873-1923 ending his career in the rank of marshal admiral.
4. Of the Nagato-class battleships consisting of the Nagato and the Mutsu, preceded by the Ise-class and succeeded by the Tosa-class. Laid down at the Yokosuka Naval Arsenal on 1 June 1918, launched on 31 May 1920, commissioned on 24 October 1921 and finally sunk in the Hashirakima fleet anchorage caused by an internal explosion on 8 June 1943.
5. Laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation on 29 May 1919, launched by Mrs. Max Melville on 22 March 1921, commissioned on 30 August 1923, overhauled 1928-1929, refitted at the Puget Sound Navy Yard 25 June1941-31 March 1942, decommissioned at Pearl Harbor on 7 January 1947, stricken on 1 March 1959 and sold to be broken up on 23 July 1959. Nicknamed Buckin Bronco. Of the Colorado-class battleships consisting of the Colorado, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington preceded by the Tennessee-class and succeeded by the South Dakota and North Carolina-classes.
6. Laid down by the New York Shipbuilding Corporation, Camden, New Jersey, USA on 30 June 1919, launched by Jean Summers on 1 September 1921, building stopped on 8 February 1922 as a result of the Washington Naval treaty and sunk by the USS New York and Texas while used as a gunnery target on 26 November 1924. Of the Colorado-class battleships consisting of the Colorado, Maryland, West Virginia and Washington preceded by the Tennessee-class and succeeded by the South Dakota and North Carolina-classes.
7. Probably the Thirteen Demands which was signed between Japan and China on 25 May 1915. It included a confirmation of the seizure of the German ports by Japan.
