Evening star., 1921-12-20
P[ENARY SESSION
Upon SUBMARINES
ASKEDBY BRITISH
English Delegates Clearly
Wish to Bring Issue Be-
fore Public Eye.
SIZE OF CRAFT LIMITED
IN DEMAND TO BE MADE
Will Ask Abolition First-Then
Fixing of Tonnage and Cut
ting Allowance.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
The British delegation has requested
an open plenary session of the wash
ington conference. to be held tomorrow
or Thursday, for the discussion of the
submarine question. it was announced
today from British sources.
The conference, it is expected. will
grant the request of the British, but
just what day the session is to be
held has not yet been made public.
The request of the British is in line
with the suggestions which have
come from various members of the
British delegation regarding the sub
marine question in the last few weeks.
Arthur J. Balfour. head of the Brit
ish delegation. and Lord Lee of Fare
ham will present the British case to
the conference, it was said. Other ma
tions will be given an opportunity to
set forth their positions on the sub
marine issue this meeting also.
French May Cause Delay.
The fact that the French may in
sist that the question of submarine tom
mage is vitality intertwined with the ma
val ratio for them now under discus
sion may cause a delay in the proposed
open session, it was pointed out.
There was talk in conference circles
today that Christmas holiday. begin
ming Friday and lasting until Tuesday.
would be taken.
The British clearly wish to bring the
submarine issue into the open. hoping
to receive the backing of public opinion
in their demand that the submarine be
abolished They are making three de-
mands:
First, that the submarine be abol-
1shed as a naval weapon.
Second, that the submarine tonnage
II the submarine is not abolished-be
curtailed to a considerable extent be-
low that fixed in the American program.
Third, that the size of the subma-
rine be limited. so as to make it a de-
of long raids against commerce far
out to sea. =
First Expected to Fail.
1t is generally believed that the
first of these demands will fail. In
fact, there are British naval author
tiles who feel that it would be a mis-
take for the Washington conference
to attempt to put an end to the sub
marine for the five powers participat-
ing, when all the countries not rep
resented in the conference would be
at liberty to go ahead with sub
marine construction.
To the British mind the submarine
issue may be considered largely as a
question apart from the naval ratio
plan of the conference.
The French. on the other hand. be-
Ieve that the submarine is directly
connected with the question of naval
ratio. 1t is their desire. it is said, to
have an adequate submarine force.
In naval circles it is said that there
is no absolute ratio between the cap
ital ship and the auxiliary ships. such
as the destroyer and the submarine.
Nevertheless, there is a practical side
to this question for each nation whose
navy must figure out the exact prob
lem with which it may be called upon
to deal. This problem varies accord
ing to coast line, naval bases, pos
sessions, etc.
Plan Carefully Worked Out.
The program presented by the United
States for the limitation of naval
armament has been carefully worked
auxiliary vessels as well Ss of capital
ships. This program as presented ap-
piled only to the United States, Great
Britain and Japan. This program, the
United States delegation will stand
by, and it will be modified only in the
event that other powers are able to
present reasons therefor.
The American plan. as it relates to
auxiliary vessels. including subma-
rines, mas been framed largely upon
existing strength of the navies involy-
ed, just as was the capital ship ratio
And it is expected that this basis of
existing naval strength will be ad-
hered to very largely. The French,
however. are anxious to increase their
submarine tonnage and some of the
other auxiliary types, it is said
Terms of U. $. Proposal.
The American proposal regarding
Hughes at the first session of the con-
ference. is as follows:
'It is proposed that the total tonnage
submarines allowed each power shall
be as follows: For the United States,
10000 tons; for Great Britain, 10000
tons; for Japan. $4,000 tons. Pro-
vided. however. that no power party
to this agreement whose total ton
mage in submarines on November IL,
1921. exceeds the prescribed tonnage
shall be required to scrap such ex-
cess tonnage until requirements be-
gin, at which time the total tonnage
of submarines allowed each power shall
be reduced to the prescribed allow.
ance as herein stated.
Limitation. Of New Construction.
"(a) All submarines whose keels
have been laid down by November II,
1921. may be carried to completion.
"(b) No new submarine tonnage
except replacement tonnage as pro-
vided hereinafter shall be laid down
during the period of this agreement:
Provided, however. That such nations
as have not reached the submarine
tonnage allowance hereinbefore stated
may construct tonnage up to the
limit of their allowance.
Submarines shall be scrapped in
accordance with methods to be agreed
upon"