The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-31

Il
Some sort of declaration with re-
gard to use of the submarine and an
agreement not to construct with any
auxiliary vessel hereafter with
tonnage of more than 10000 are ex-
pected to be added to the accomplish
menta before the final curtain is rung
down. A ftve-power treaty embody-
ing all the points on which there is
agreement now Is In process of draft
ing.
There are growing Indications. too,
that the four power treaty to pre-
serve peace in the Pacific, which al
ready has been signed, will be in
some way further clarified before the
conference quits. The American deie-
CATION is understood to have With
drawn any objection to the Japanese
proposal that the treaty's scope be
defined as not including the major
Japanese islands and the plan for an
exchange of clarifying notes or for
amendment Of tho treaty text is ex-
peeted to take definite form within
few days.
The Japanese request for ciariti-
cation OF the treaty's terms Is said
to have been based largely on the
development of difference in view
on the subject between President
Harding and the American delegation.
This development has been a topi-
Of such wide-s spread speculation in
conference circles that the President
today took occasion to characterize
as silly published reports that Sec
rotary Hughes was considering resig-
nation from the cabinet as result
Of differences arising between him
and tile White House during the arms
negotiations.
Far Eastern Problems
What is to be done about the far
eastern problems now becomes the
big unanswered question OF the con-
ference. Japan and China are dead
locked in their efofrts at a separate
settlement Of the shantung cohtro-
versy and as . consequence satl tho
|dothSr Car eastern dispussien# are at
~ endstnI II was indicated tonight
vi meeting OF the far sastsrt
COMMITTEES would be held rr1<t week
at which China would attempt to
transfer the shantung negotiations
into the full conference.
Menatlme Senate discussion of the
accomplishments of the conferences
are continuing even though the Sem
ate is not in session. Today's contri-
button to the argument came from
Senator Edge. republican, New Jer-
sew. who declared in a public state-
ment that the Washington negotia-
lions had laid the foundation for
great progress toward peace and
good Will.
Today's agreement on airplane car
riers, a type of ship which still is in
the experimental stage. was reached
quickly by the naval committee, aft
er the American delegation had modi-
fled its limitation proposal to conform
to the figures which several powers
presented as representing their de-
sire. Under the agreement. the United
states is to have $4,000 tons in air
plane carriers, Great Britain 1885,
600 tons, Japan $1,000 tons. France
and Italy 10000 tons each. The pre-
vious American plan would have
given the United States $4,000 tons.
Great Britain $4,000 tons. Japan 49,
600 tons, France $4,000 tons and Italy
$4,000 tons.
Single Carrier
In addition, it was agreed that no
sir.gle carrier of more than $4,000 tons
should be constructed and that none
should carry guns of greater than
eight-inch calibre. It was indicates
during the discussions that the
United @.ates and Great Britain each
would build five carriers. Japan three,
France three and Italy two, all pres
emit tonnage in the carrier class to be
considered experimental and not fall
ing within the new limitation.
The committee debate which pre-
ceded the carrier agreement again
brought Anglo French relations into
prominence and led to another
pointed exchange between the British
and French delegates. Lord Lee. for
the British. set forth at some length
why his government is regarding
with apprehension the naval build