Great Falls tribune., 1921-12-21

for capital ships under this formal re-
serve which you will certainly UNDER
stand"
Hughes Shows Shortcomings
Mr.. Hughes pointed out to the
premier that strict application to the
French navy of the rule of reduction
of tonnage applied in the provisional
agreement between Great Britain, the
United States and Japan. would bring
her capital ship tonnage to 1O2 900
aggregate. He added that there was
every disposition, however, TO permit
France to keep all her tonnage in
dreadnaught ships, however old, and
| even to make an allowance of 10000
tons over the strict application of the
rule OF existing strength as was done
gestion
The proposed agreement really
doubles the relative strength Of the
French navy" his message added
pointing out that if present American
and British building programs, pro-
posed to be abandoned, were carried
out, each nation would have a naval
preponderance of more than six to
one over France very shortly"
And France would not be in a po-
sltion to better herself, much less by
any possible endeavor, to obtain such n
relative strength as has been suggest
ed" Mr.. Hughes added.
How the Powers VIII Stand
The French delegation was under
stood to be in receipt Tuesday night, of
detailed instructions as to the amount
OF auxiliary naval tonnage, including
submarines. desired under an agreement
TO accept l75,000 tons as her share OF
capital ships. Mr.. Hughes message
Idiscloses it would be possible for France
under the capital ship limitation. to
build two new $4,000 ton post-Jutland
battleships if she so desired.
Roughly, the submarine tonnage, built
and building, now possessed by each of
the five powers is as follows:
United States. $4,000 tons; Great
Britain. $1,000 tons: France, 42.0OO
tons: Japan, $4,000 tons; Italy, $4,000
tons
The maximum of the American ton
mage apparently was taken in the Amer
lcan original three-power proposal. with
5000 tons of submarines authorized to
be abandoned. Taking 10000 as the;
American allotment. the Hughes plan
would give Great Britain the same. and;
Japan $1,000 tons, n go per cent
ratio.
The French 175,O0o ton capital ship
tonnage would mean q ratio Of about
LOT compared to the, American and
British five and the japanese three. If.
that ratio were applied to submarines,
France would have now nearly 10000
tons more than her proportion and
Japan more than 10000 tons less.
Americans May Find Way Out
From what direction it is planned to,
attack the submarine tonnage problem
should the conference fail to agree, as
ls expected. to adjustment of subma-,
rlnes. is not known. There are indi-;
cations, however. that the American
group will be prepared with definite
suggestions both as to submarines and,
each other auxiliary craft element of
the reduction plan when an appropriate,
movement for presentation comes.
Views of each of the other four powers
on these points are understood to be
in process of development informally
by the American delegation for the
purposes of such suggestions,
So far as the British desire to abol-
ish or at least closely curb submarine
activities goes. it has been said officially
for the British delegation that agree
nent to the capital ship $50" ratiA.
the 1O-year naval holiday and the re-
tanned tonnage elements of the Ameri-
can program was in no sense conGfi-
tlonal. The British intend, it is UNDER
stood, to fight the submarine issue out
ON its merits and to regard it as in
volved only with the question of anti
submarine craft tonnage. The lines OF
the contest are not yet clear. but an
intimation came from the Dutch circles
that while the Netherlands government,
was NOT concerned Immediately in the
naval limitation conference, it was in
terested in the submarine question and
would oppose any attempt on the part
OF the Washington conference to ret a
world policy Of submarine adjustment.
In the expectation OF an early come
pletion Of matters Of immediate ims
portance before the Washington con-
ference, members Of the Japanese delel
cation and their various staffs have
tentatively booked the entire capacity
OF the steamer Shinyo Maru, sailing
from Cau EAAncisco January q for