The New York herald., 1921-12-28
IL u ~ lllLbJ lhAA ~ II lbAzA - -
Sarraut Tells Him Of
Decision but Holds
Announcement
Until To-day
DELEGATES CAUTIOUS
Parley's Main Naval Pro-
cram Assured of Success
Despite AuXiliaries.
FRENCH WANT EQUALITY
Expected to Stand Out for the
Same Submarine Tonnage j
L. S. and Britain Get.
by LOUIS sEIBoLD.

SpcCiGt Dispatch to TIE NEW YORK hERALn-
New York Herald Pureau.
Washington. ID. C.. Dee. 81.
Extreme caution characterized the
conversations of the delegates to the
arms conference to-day in speculating
over the outcome of the deadlock
caused by the French insistence for
a larger percentage of auxiliary craft
than is favored by any other of the
nations. ssSI
The decision of the BRAND Cabinet
is awaited with both eagerness and
anxiety, for there is no discounting
the fact that it is within the power
of the French Government 10 defeat
at least one of the desirable reforms
IN armaments that the United States
Government hopes to accomplish.
Failure to reach an agreement on
the naval program apparently can
be caused only by the decision OF
the BRAND Cabinet to stand by the
demands made by its naval experts
and presented to the conference com.
mittee on sea armaments.
Hear of "A Decision.
While not over optimistic tonight
the delegates of the other Powers
express the hope that the BRAND
Cabinet has decided to accept the
allotments favored by the other
countries. The American delegates
have heard that some sort of deci.
sion was reached and will be avail.
able when the naval committee, COM
posed of the representatives of the
United States, Great Britain, France,
Italy and Japan, assemblies to-mor-
row morning.
The French delegates admitted to-
night that they had received the in
structions which are to guide their
course, but would not discuss the
character of the instructions. Close
observers expressed the opinion that
the directions sanction the demands
made for maximum submarine privi.
leges but do not close the door
against compromise.
The belief that an agreement ulti.
mately will be reached exists among
British, Italian and Japanese dele
gates, but they admit they have no
definite information on which to base
It. Their attitude can be best de.
scribed as being hopeful, and that is
about all that can be said about it.
Main Structure 10 stand.
On one pC'nt, however, the Amer.
lean delegates and those of Great
Britain. Japan. Italy, Belgium, Portu.
gal and China are in agreement. This
is the positive conviction that the
capital ship plan agreed to by the
United States, Great Britain and
japan will be approved by the con.
ference and put into effect. The
same delegates are also convinced
that the rejection OF the compromise
auxiliary program by France will not
affect the main structure of the re.
form program already accepted or
that seems to be in prospect.
In other words, the delegates OF the
countries associated with France are
determined that its dissent shall not
defeat the chief purposes for which
the conference was called. They re-
gret. Of course. the attitude assumed
by their French colleagues, who are
carrying out the wishes of the BRAND
Cabinet. and would welcome completes
cooperation on their part.
But the American delegates and
their associates, who are desirous OF
completing the program. already have
discounted the possibility or noncon-
currence on the part OF their French
associates. Consequently the tempo
rary halt in conference proceedings
caused by the demands made by
France for maximum submarine privi-
leges that do not find favor among the
other delegates has not been per-
mltted to interrupt the orderly proc
esses OF working out solutions for
the remaining problems which relate
TO Far Eastern affairs.
The chief regret OF the American
delegates is that their French as
sociates have appeared to lose con-
tact with the spirit which inspired
President Harding TO call the con-
ference, but have been influenced by
considerations that have no direct re-
lation 10 it's purpose.
In their discussions of the situation
r.