Evening star., 1921-12-19
Delegations Recess
for Study OF New
Move by Paris.
SUBMARINE RISES UP
AS LARGE OBSTACLE
BRAND May Have Made
Agreement Contingent
on Other New Ships.

by the Associated Press.
A five-power treaty to limit naval
armament apparently has been
brought much nearer by new move
on the part Of France.
Fresh instructions for the French
delegation. said unofficially to include
Premier Brands acceptance of the
American proposal for French naval
strength. reached Washington today
and impelled the French delegates to
ask for twenty-four hour recess in
the naval negotiations while they de-
coded the message and pondered its
contents.
Note OF Warning Sounded.
Meantime. despite unofficial advices
from abroad saying there has been a
positive acceptance by the French
government. conference leaders are
sounding note of warning against
overoptimism.
Submarine New Issue.
In some quarters it is regarded as
probable that the message from NJ.
BRAND. which is of considerable
length. makes the capital ship ar
rangement contingent on a settlement
regarding auxiliary craft, which will
give France what she wants in sub
marines and cruisers.
Should 1t turn out. however. that an
unconditional acceptance is contained
in the premier5s cablegram, a five
Per OF aVnf vln% h.,
only a question of hours. With the
United States. Great Britain and ia
pan already agreed as to their own
relative strength, and Italy indicat-
ing an earnest desire to take her
place in any reasonable arrangement,
the French attitude is the key to the
whole problem.
Premier Brands message reached
the French delegation just before the
hour set for today's session of the
naval committee of fifteen, and a
twenty-four-hour postponement was
announced to permit deciphering of
the cablegram and it's translation into
concrete proposals which the dele
gates can lay before the committee.
Creates a Sensation.
Unofficial advices from London and
Paris saying France had accepted the
naval ratio proposed for her by the
American government created some :
thing of sensation in arms confer
ence circles today. because the de-
velopment generally was interpreted
as marking one of the longest steps
yet taken toward naval reduction
agreement.
Among those who have been di-
rectly concerned in the latest phase
of the ratio negotiations there has
been confident belief all along that
the Paris government would accept.
but even the most optimistic had not
expected the agreement to come so
soon. The request of the French
naval experts here for a capital ship
tonnage twice as great as that pro-
vided in the American plan had
brought the negotiations to a rather
critical stage, and a long and per-
haps stubborn debate had been fore
cast generally.
Quick Decision Likely.
Some further discussion may be
necessary to bring Italy's views into
accord with the flve-power ratio pro-
posal. but no prolonged negotiations
plete American proposal for eXpan-
sion of the three-cornered agreement
into a five-power treaty is reported
in the Paris unofficial dispatches as
providing for ratio Of II for France
and 1.6s for Italy as compared to the
United States. Great Britain and
Japan, respectively. The Italian dele
cation has insisted heretofore that
their government should have as
large a figure as France.
Throughout the discussion, how
ever. the Italians have shown a ten
dency to make every reasonable con-
cession in the interest of harmony,
and it would surprise the conference
If any serious hitch arose over the
narrow margin that has been left be-
tween the French and Italian stand
ings.
Sharp Field Of Difference.
Once there is an agreement among
the five-powers as to the capital ship
ratio, the next big question will relate
to submarines. In that field a sharp
difference of opinion is developing.
but there is general feeling that it
will not be permitted to in any way
interfere with the underlying agree
ment on ratio.
In some quarters it is expected that
a plenary session of the conference
will be held as soon as there is a ra-
ito agreement. perhaps in few days,
at which the definite five-power plan
will be formally announced and an
opportunity will be given for pub
lie expression of views as to subma-
rines. Great Britain desires to pre-
sent to the world her plea for an
abolition of the submarine altogether,
and France is expected to reply with
a statement of the reasons that seem
to her valid for retaining large sub
marine fleet.
May Stand With France.
American naval experts are known
to favor also a comparatively large
submarine tonnage in the final tables
of national strength, and in that
connection must interest attached
today to unofficial advices saying
Ambassador Harvey had discussed
that subject with Premier BRAND. In
some circles speculation centered
which the United States and France
would stand together against the
British submarine position. There
was no confirmation that the London
agreement was in any way contin-
gent on such an understanding. but
France is known to feel that in the
interests of national safety any con-
cession she might make on capital
ships should be in, some way Offset
by an assurance of a satisfactory
submarine quota.
Proposal stin Puzzle.
Until the inside story of the
French attitude becomes known the
startling proposal for a 35O,O00-ton
capital ship fleet made to the arms
conference last week by the French
delegates remains somewhat of a
puzzle. Such tonnage would have
given France a ratio of more than
three instead of the much smaller
ratio reported, which she now is said
to be willing to take. The French
delegates contend that their proposal
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