The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-16
Their Demand for IN,
crease of the Strength
of Navy Upset
BRITISH COMMENT
Fear That If Carried Out
It Would Disrupt
sos Program
tBy Associated press)

WASHINGTON, Dec. 16-The
French delegation has presented a
proposal for SO great an increase
in the strength of the French navy
that the British declare suca q
proposal, II carried out would up-
set the whole plan for a 5-5-3
naval reduction.
Although not vet entirely re-
vealed, the British understand that
the French plan provides for tie
construction of ten $1,000 ton
super -dreadnaughts In the ten
years subsequent to 1926. These
vessels, Of a type similar to the
American battleship Maryland
would give France a capital ship
tonnage OF $4,000 as against
5000 for Japan and prep6ne
derance Of new post jutland type
craft over all nations.
Italy, although indicating d8z
approval of such building pro-
gram, is said to have told the arms
conference that II France con-
structs ten ships she must carry
out a similar building program
The combined French and Italian
fleets thus would be some 200; 900
tons stronger than the British or
the American allotments under the
revised figures SGreed on yesterday
by tho big three.
The question Of French and
italian naval ratios as compared
with the five-five-three standtnRB
assigned to the United States,
Great Britain and Japan. under
yesterdays agreement was
up by the committee OF s meet lhf
today. No official word has come
from tho conference, however. ias
to what tonnage France has asked
but if-Franea aas asked for s
900 tons, e would rspF iiSoliis
& forty per cisii
present capital ghlps
measured IN terms d
dreadnaught Tor. supS i
tonnage She has aibat et 81
proximately 16s, 600 tons IN d
ships while italy has Bolt
136, 900 tons. Both navies include
a comparatively small tonnAg In J
pte-dreadnaugat battleships.
Should 1t ultimately be deter
mined that the principles OF the
American people are 10 govern the
French and italian ratios as wen
as those OF Great Britain, the Z
United States and Japan there
would bo no Substantial increase
in the present capital ship tone
mage Of the two European poWera.
France now stands on tie basis OF
completed ships less than forty
per cent relative strength IL tbs
American strength as estimated ID Z
the five-ave-three proposal should
be taken as 100 per cent In other
words, II France were bracke keted
into the five-fiYe-three ratio her,
place would be less taan two and
Italy slightly below that.
The British spokesman said tos
day that the French proposals, -
accepted, would throw out the
whole naval program. He declar.
ed it had met with distinct d1sat
proval from the British delegation:
The British Spokesman further
declared that Italy did not approve
Of the French proposition for II HI
was carried out italy would DO oh
lIged to build the same amount
this will mean an addition Of
100000 tons to the European var
fleets. Tho ten ships Bhiol
France and italy would build
under this plan would cost roughly
10,00O,000 pounds each and both
France and Italy would be spend
ing 1OO,00O,O0O pounds or half
billion dollars in the ten year 4
period beginning in 1925.
The French delegates were said
to have given the reason for AK
ing approval Of this building pro
gram that during the war Francs
had built very few ships, and
therefore must re-fit. The Brftisiis
It was said, recognized The right 81
the French to a moderate increas
: tConttnue6 ~ oaEt tiEsstl