Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-19

The proposals and the accompanying
schedule of planned construction were
presented with the full authority of the
French government 1t was learned on
best authority tonight and we're not.
as has been indicated in some quar-
ters. merely tentative department
Al plan"
Authoritative French opinion as obC
tanned tonight was that the plan and
its resulting ratio for France was en-
tirely rea soma BILE. 1t was made plain
that there was no disposition to mod
ify the proposals in their vital fea-
lures or to accept. the $4,000 ton ratio
proposed by the American delegation.
The first new ship would be laid
down In 1926. under the French plan
submitted to the committee and each
year the keel of an additional ship
would be laid to gradually replace and
augment the present capital ship ton
mage of France. which in the opinion
of her government Is. antiquated in
design and inadequate to protect the
nations interests.
The naval experts OF the French del
egation estimated that the last OF the
new ships would be ready for service
in l941 or. not before ten years after
the period of the naval holiday. con-
templated in the Limitation agreement
7 nOW Dt1OTe tHe COnSTSSS..
Essential features OF the French
plan were submitted in n table illus
| irating proposed construction, as
| follows.
-'Ycar-Capitai ship tonnage
| fa26--164 900 tall old dread
isas@soo. 900 e. new. 6 old dead
naughts).
1Sss-:s5.ooo q old. others new
! dreadnaughts)
1o4I-s5o. 900 Go new dread
naughts).
| An analysis. it was explained. would
show. that tho French navy after ten
years would figure about 100000 tons
of capital ships. including two new
drca Inaughts. and that this would be
| ximstely the tonnage of the two new
ships over the allotment made to
France. under the American plan.
Paris has been kept Informed of
what transpired Thursday. Friday
and Saturday.
No recommendation for change has
been made from tho delegation and
no supplementary instructions nave
been derived from Paris.
The conviction exists In the delcga-
tion that none would be received un-
less recommended b. the delegation.
| Members are confident that the
more their figures arc examined the
| less will they he opposed by either tho
American government or American
public opinion but even " they werc
\ found unacceptable they declare u
| In not seen how they could be reduced
materially having in view the strength
of the colonial party In France. This.
| IL was explained. is composed OF
senator's and deputies OF all pub
| lie groups who arc devoted to the
development OF French possessions.
The trade with tho French colonies
Is now upward of two billion francs
/ the guide for the French delegation
| It was pointed out by its members.
| French opinion Is tho only ono thcy
can follow. =,
Which much regret Is expressed
over the impression that appears TO
| exist among tho delegates of tho 'hr,o
major naval powers that France has
surprised them by asking moro than
had been expected, French delegates
consider this as in no sense their
! responsibility because they gave their
| figures when they were asked 20 do
| so.
| Premier Brands acceptance In
| principle of Hughes plan according
| to French circles. was It is indicated
I
| Of ravies, but an acceptsne of the
principle of naval limitation. Altho
| the French naval plan stipulates thst
no new capital ship shall be laid down
| before 1895. the view of the French
government. It Is affirmed Is that
building can he begun jim that year
and regularly continued because by
that time n is expected French IL
nanres viii, have recovered sufficient
| Is to permit this expenditure.
Many members of the arms confer
encc. are looking forward to an anil
mated and perhaps prolonged discus
sion before the French naval views
finally are brought into accord with
those OF the other powers.
1t would not surprise some dele
gates IL the naval ratio discussion
lasted into the new year and upset
plans Of the British to depart In De-
cember.
As to the Far Eastern problems
there seems to be littis TO delay sd-
journment.
The Shantung negotiations arc
understood TO have brought tho
japanese and Chinese almost TO an
agreement and only a few items on
the Far Eastern aEenda remain to be
considered Tho delegates seem to he
generally of the opinion that If the
naval problem can be'solved. the Far
Eastern end will be wound up speed
lily.