The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-12
SUBMARINES THE
NEXT BIG CASE
Will Soon Come to Arms
Meeting; Delegates
Leave Soon

lby AAgoet0Leo PteABJ
WASHINGTON, Dec. 12-Sub-
marines promise to present the
arms conference Its next big issue.
On all the other major subjects
before the conference the dele
gates professed TO-DAY to SEQ a
prospect OF cary solution. But
the question Of whether submar-
ines are to be included in quantity
in the fleets of the future is de-
veloping widely different opinion.
Further advices from Toxic and
further conferences oi;naval prob
lens will he held soon.
Tho far eastern negotiations
also. arc described as proceeding
satisfactorily with atsentiment de-
velopinE in some quarters to make
the final accomplishments OF the
conference IN that direction the
basis OF formal nine power treaty
instead OF merely a "gentl9men's
agreement" or joint declaration Of
policy.
But the submarine problem.
which involves among other things
a question OF whethe- undersea
craft are to be considered &t all as
legitimate instruments OF warfare.
Is said by delegates to be entirely
separate from all of these. In the
American naval reduction plan
Great Britain and the United
States each would be given d sub.
marine tonnage of 10000 tous as
compared with $4,000 tons for
Japan and a quantity yet to be
fixed for France and Italy. Great
Britain thinks these figures should
be cut in half and British spokes-
man pred Tcted today that the cun-
flict OF views might lead to "con-
siderable controversy" The Brit
ish beloved the French and Ital-
ians, and probably the Japanese,
are preparing to stand together in
favor OF a large use OF submarines.
They do not know as yet. exactly
how tho United States will stand
on that question, having officially
nothing to guide th9m CyOnd tae
original proposal. an allotment Of
10000 tons to tho British and
American government
1t was stated to-day that tho
British would not attempt to make
an Issue on the queStiOn II con-
vIncei that the majority uf the
conference was opposed 10 them.
But they said frankly they inteni-
ed to make a strong oTor. to pres
ent tho British viewpoint ns set
out by Mr.. Balfous In his speech
before The conference With suth
additional re-infoWemoHi OF ':c-
tails as to bring notlCs to thc Brit
Ish position.
The British also arc hoping that
it may be possible to induce the
conference. acting through their
naval experts, to consent to some
variation of the original naval
holiday proposition, evidently
counting on japanese support OF
any plan that would keep at least
some OF the naval construction
works under way.
In the far eastern negotiations.
the trend toward a treaty in place
of mere international under
standing is said to have started
with the Chinese, and Is gaining
some support from their delegates.
1t was said today, however, that
the question still was an unsettled
one, and that the exchanges had
not proceeded far enough to bring
out distinctly the various national
viewpoints.
On the question Of Pacific forth
fications the opinions OF most OF
the groups are obscure. 1t is be-
Iieved that Great Britain need not
be a party to the treaty as only
the Notifications she has in Pacific
waters are at Hongkong on the
mainland Of Asia.
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