New-York tribune., 1921-12-22
Frances Plea for More
Submarines and Light
Craft To Be Heard by
Naval Committee To-day
Hugghes's g Proposal
May Be Trimmed
Final Adjournment of
Farley Before Christmas
Baked by Chinese Issue
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-Fina} ad-
Journment Of the Armament Conference
would be possible before Christmas Day
were it not for China. Every other
question before the conference is SO
near complete settlement, if it has not
already been agreed upon, that were it
not for the troubles of the Celestial
Republic adjournment would be taken
probably Saturday.
This is still within the range of pos
sibilities, but the probability is that,
on account of the Chinese situation, the
conference will go over into January
concluding around the middle of the
month, In the opinion Of those in close
touch with the situation. Incidentally.
there is great deal of resentment
against the Chinese among the Ameri-
can and British delegations, due to the
feeling that the Chinese are not willing
to cooperate with those whose onlv
thought 1T is to help them.
Fight on Submarines To-day
With the battleship ratio entirely out
of the way, the full naval committee
which consists O. all the delegates
from the five naval powers, will con-
vene tomorrow, together with the ex
pert naval advisers of each country. At
the opening of the meeting France will
present her case for larger allow
ance of submarines and other craft,
which her spokesman characterize as
defensive" than the ratio of 175 as
signed to her on big ships.
Submarines will be the first subject
taken up. France is particularly in
sistent upon large submarine fleet.
and right here will come one of the
interesting fights of the conference. in
view OF the much discussed desire of
the British to outlaw the use of sub
marines entirely.
1t was made known to-day that the
British would make their fight inside
the naval committee, and reserve their
appeal to world opinion for the next
pubic meeting of the conference. The
original intention of the British was
to make their appeal to world opinion
through speeches in an open session
OF the conference before the question
OF submarines was taken up in closed
committee meetings. Their original
Idea was to have all the world opinion
possible brought to bear on the com
mittee so as to influence it's action
ms idea was strengthened when such
men as Senator Borah, of Idaho. one
OF the stanchest opponents of the
British Empire in American public life
endorsed heartily their move to abolish
submarines.
May Scale Hughes's Proposal
The British have come to realize.
however, that on account of the opinion
OF american naval experts, and on ac-
count more particularly of the present
desires of the French, enhanced by the
French thought that the British have
mad hand in curtailng the part
France has played in the present con-
terence, they would be building to
lnore purpose if they directed their
efforts at the next conference rather
than the present
AS matter of fact, however, there
is good prospect that the original
submarine tonnage proposed by Mr..
Hughes may be scaled down somewhat
as a result of British criticisms. first
voiced by Mr.. Balfour The tonnage
figures suggested by Mr.. Hughes were
In excess of the actual tonnage of
either of the three larger naval powers,
and there is no very keen desire on
the part of either Japan or Britain
to build, and there is no assurance that
the American Congress would be will
ing to make the appropriations for
more American submarine building in
the face of such a campaign as the
British have started. Congress, of
course, would be more influenced by
the economy idea and by the world
peace idea than by any particular
desire to fall in with the British sug-
gestion, but the Congressional situa-
tion is there to be reckoned with,
and the members of the American dele
cation know it.
France and italy Unaffected
In connection with the submarines
and the French desire for building ii
large fleet of them, it was made clear
to-day by an American spokesman that
there is no desire or the part of this
country, certainly, to bind Italy and
France to any proportion. The general
rule laid down by MIR. Hughes at the
convening of the conference that the
big ship ratio should be determined,
and that this ratio should then be gen
orally applied to auxiliary craft, was
not mentioned with regard to the
French and Italian navies, it was point
ed out, and this lack of mention was by
design, net oversight.
Raw sE.sc EgoEI Mn TN,.nvoL