Evening star., 1921-12-17
NAVY RATIO
IS AGAIN TAKEN UP
Committee of IS Resumes
Work With Little Pros.
pect of Results.
By the Associated Press.

The naval committee Of fifteen of
the arms conference resumed con-
sideration today of the French and
Italian naval ratio problem. but with
little prospect that the day would
snow any material results in the way
of advancement toward an agreement
among the five powers on relative
naval strength and reduction in fleets
in harmony with that already reached
by the big three" naval countries.
The naval subcommittee. after
session of about two hours. adjourned.
At the conclusion of the committees
deliberations the following announce
ment was made:
THE subcommittee on naval liml-
tation met this morning, December II,
at IL o'clock, in the PanAmerican
building, and after a general discus
sion adjourned to meet next Monday
morning, December 19. at IL o'clock" :"
The committee again was intrenched
behind its rule of silence adopted yes
terday, and no further information
was available as to the exact nature
of the statement the French group is
making as to Frances needs in naval
tonnage on the basis of her national
security. Nor was further light avail
able on the French project to build
ten 35.000-ton capital ships in the
decade 1925-35.
Discusses Secrecy Pledge.
NJ Sarraut, the head of the French
delegation, it was learned. recalled to
the attention of the committee at to-
days session the promise of secrecy
made by all delegations on Thursday,
and said this agreement had been dis
regarded by British "spokesmen" on
Friday. NJ. Sarraut further asserted
that he had kept his word. and that
until the committee changed the rule
he intended to observe the obligation.
The French delegation head then
passed on to the presentation of the
French point of view on naval re-
ductions, and no other member of the
committee referred to the question of
secrecy.
Chairman Hughes, speaking after NJ
Sarraut concluded. was understood to
have taken moderate view and
spoke appreciatively at one point
of the part played by France in the
world war.
1t is generally understood that NJ
Sarraut and Ambassador Jusserand
the two French delegates now in
Washington. lack full power to mod
ify the basis or the details of the
naval proposals France has present.
ed in the committee. The delegation
is known to have been in cable COM
munication with Paris since the big
three" agreement was made known
officially. but it mas not been dis
closed whether additional instructions
have been received from Premier
BRAND.
Count ON Effect at Home.
Some officials here count upon the
effect in France the return Of Mar
shall Foch from the United States is
apt to have because of the extraordi-
;; nary warmth of the reception the
great French soldier received all over
| the United States during his visit
here. 1t is estimated by these officials
| that the marshaPs report of the very
| friendly feeling shown toward him by
the American people everywhere will
have a hearing in the final determina-
| ton of the French government to shape
. lines that Great Britain, the United
States and Japan have agreed to do in
the three-power naval understanding.
No U. s. Counter Proposals.
The American group in the commit
tee of fifteen has not reached the point
of formulating counter proposals as
to French and Italian naval ratios,
Is is understood. Whether develop
ments in the committee will make
such American initiative advisable re-
mains to be seen.
In the far eastern branch of the
conference negotiations, on the other
hand. there had been a turn for great
er progress today in the tentative
agreement reached between, the Japa-
nese and Chinese delegates in their
financial settlement by China for pur-
chase of the Kiaochow railroad in the
Japanese leasehold. With this obstacle
removed, the delegations were pre-
pared to press their negotiations at
another meeting today.