The Washington herald., 1921-12-22
Prepared to State Need
Of Auxiliary Craft
For Defense.
KNOTTY PROBLEMS
FACE CONFERENCE
British Eager to Inject
Submarine Issue in
Discussions.

The knotty problems Of the naval
armament conference come up for set
tlement today.
When the general naval commit
tee. meets at IL O'Clock this morning.
France will state her position on aux
HAIRY craft In return for withdraw
ing her demand for in excess OF
350.oO0 tons OF capital ships. she will
ask a light cruiser and subna me
allotment nearly equal 10 that which
the British and American experts con
slider sufficient for those countries.
Experts wn Pres. Case.
France will not ak for ratio
She Will raise the practical qucs-
ton OF a navy SUFFICIENT for what
her experts say are her needs. Her
delegation will argue just what they
believe they must create - e proper
defensive weapon. She will take the
position that only her own experts
know what her needs are.
The attitude Of the American and
British delegations will he that they
are willing 20 be shown Premier
Briand has told his delegation here
that all France desires is justice
in any agreement that later shall
be written into treaty II the
Wrench demands are considered res-
sonable. after a full and free dis
cussion. then a speedy settlement %
all Of the involved naval problems
can be expected. II the powers think
them unreasonable. then there needs
must be delay and lengthy discus
sion.
British TO Bring To Submarines.
II can be expected that the Brit
ish delegation will inject the subma-
rine problem into the discussion ut
the earliest possible moment France
Il was learned last night. viii m-
sist on the right to build subms-
rines on a very large scale. The
British will bitterly oppose this- The
American delegation IS perfectly
Willing that the ratio originally sur-
gested by Secretary Hughes OF so.vv"
IONS for the two leading powers shall
be scaled down. The japanese ar
not so keen for this Italy very
likely will stand by France on the
submarine issue. The result VIII be
a very animated argument right 81
the outset. with the final decision
greatly in doubt
ference hinge on todsys discussions
Secretary of State Hughes hay made
IL plain that the matter OF a .ecess
over the Christmas holidays. or OF
the next open session. cannot be de
cided until the conference finds out
where IL stands on the suxiliaTv
problem. II decision could be
reached today. or even tomorrow =
plensry session would be called BE-
late as Saturday. However. the in
dicstions last night were that the
auxiliary craft discussion will last
FOR some time. and In that event IL
Is considered probable that re-
cess will be taken tomorrow until
next Tuesday.
British Cancel Re.erystious.
The British delegates have de-
cided that II will be Impossible for
the conference to complete it,
labors before the middle of next
month. In consequence they have
cancelled their reservations on the
olympic, sailing from New York on
December 81. There stfll revaln-
much TO be accomplished. Theie
has been no final agreement on SOM,
OF the more knotty OF the Far Eas.
ern and Pacific problems. The
question OF spheres Of influence in
China. with which has been coupled
the demand by the Chinese that ths
japanese either cancel the now "a
nous "twenty-one demands" or Al
low them 70 be openly debated "a
the conference. still faces the fuli
committee on Far Eastern sNafrx
Reaching an agreement on this par
ticular phase OF the situation apa
discussion Of the remaining matters
still on the sgends is a matter OF
many days in the opinion OF the
various delegations
At Critical stage.
II is because OF this fact that
secretary Hughes has discouraged
suggestions that the conference.
might recess during the time inter
rening between Christmas and New
Year. The gathering is right now
at stage where important develop-
ments might come at any time ne
is very hopeful that IL will be nos
siole 10 expedite the discussions OF
The completed naval program. a.
suggested by France. in such a man
ner that definite decision would
be reached very speedily. In this
connection IL was explained bv 4,
spokesman for the American dele
gation that there never had bee,,
any thought of applying a ratio 10
either France or Italy.
Proposals were made. he said 10
Great Britain and Japan. who. aIon.-
With the United States. were IN.
leaders in the race for naval SUI
premacy. We realized. he said.
that neither France nor Italy should
be asked 70 make any sacrifice ana
we suggested that they not be asked
70 scrap any capital ships. Iut be
allowed TO retain all they had. M
BRAND having withdrawn his re-
quest for a big capital ship feet. W.
now are at the point where we can
deal with the auxiliary craft.
wait for Tokyo.
Incidentally American circles are
not very much troubled about the
apparent deadlock in the Shsntung
situation. II is believed that when
the japanese finally receive now in
strucuons from Tokyo. which have
been asked for. they will be Of
character that wiz make Il possible
for the delegation TO proceed with
its negotiations However. it was
pointed out lsS night -. --ca
though the deadlock Si'' COR
tinusd through Japan sasistoa,r