Paris, Jan. 29. Great Britain's intention to invoke the escalator clause of the London Naval Treaty of 1996 "in order to build at least one battleship of more than 40,000 tons in reply to Japan" is confirmed by the London correspond: ent of the Paris edition of the "New York Herald Tribune."
Furthermore, the correspondent wrote, information received by the Admrialty confirms reports that Japan is building or intends to build a warship of between 40,000 and 46,000 tons, "Great Britain's decision to take similar action," he stated, "is expected to be announced in the naval estimates' which will be submitted in Parliament towards the end of next month.
"It is believed here that the size of the two new American dreadnoughts which President Roosevelt requested in his message to Congress yesterday was purposely omitted so that the announcement might be made simultaneously with the presentation of the naval estimates of Great Britain and the United States next month.
"A tentative agreement," the writer added, "between Great Britain and the United States to match Japan ship for ship is understood to have been reached during the recent visit to London of Captain Ingersoll, official of the Naval Operations Department.
"It was admitted in official quarters to-day that Captain Ingersoll had consulted the Admiralty regarding capital ship constructions' with the United States and Great Britain each building a vessel of over 40,000 tons for every one constructed in Japan.
"It was predicted," he concluded, "that Tokyo would soon grow financially weary of the competition and the balance of naval power in the Pacific Ocean. would remain undisturbed."—Havas.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.