The New York herald., 1921-12-13
TO Sign Four Power Treaty
To-day and Sail for Home
OH Paris Tomorrow.
SARRAUT HEADS MISSION
France and Italy Reported as
Agreed on Relative Naval
AllOtments.
BY RALPH COURTNEY.

Special Despatch to THE NEW York uERALp
New York Herald Bureau,
Washington, ID. C., Dec. 1e.
NJ. Rene Viviani leaves Washington
tomorrow after a meeting at which he
will sign the four Power treaty of Wash.
ington on behalf of France. NJ. Viviani
has turned over his powers to the French
Colonial Minister. NJ. Sarraut. vino will
henceforth head the French arms dele
cation. Admiral De Bon has been ap-
pointed chief spokesman for France in
the committee on the naval ratio agreed
to at to-day's conference meeting.
The time has come" said NJ. Viviani
this evening, 'for me to say good-by to
washington. l leave tomorrow and sail
Tor France by the Paris on Wednesday.
When NJ. BRAND asked me to come
to Washington for this conference l told
him how much pleasure it would give
me to do so. At the same time 1 told
him how necessary it was for me to
return to France at an early date and
cabled Mr.. Hughes to explain the situa-
ton in which j was placed. / was in
America for two months in April, and
then spent several months in Geneva, so
that l hardly have country any more
Therefore, although the conference is not
yet terminated, / think it has reached a
stage when i can carry out the inten-
lions l have had ever since I accepted
the invitation TO come.
Although the conference still has a
number of things to settle 1t can now be
said to be an assured success. NJ. Sar-
raut. who was for many years Governor
OF lndo-China, is specially fitted to con-
tinue the discussion for France on Far
Eastern affairs. In the same way Ad-
miral De Bon will represent France In
the naval committee
1T seems to me as I leave that the
conference is on the way to an rgree-
ment on all subjects. / believe that
complete harmony will prevail and that
all decisions will be unanimous. IMAM
unity of course is essential, for 1t would
DO unfortunate to have any resolution
carried by majority at such a con-
ference.
mo doubt there will be still another
conference next year. The American
effort in the present case has been diff
ferent from that behind all other confer
ences. just as the Washington meet has
been the most magnificent of all the in
ternational gatherings yet held.
"Of course it remains to be seen who
is to be invited to the next conference,
and this cannot be known at present.
Il have been very touched at the
Kindness extended to me here, and |
repeat that I expect the conference to
be q complete success. We must not,
however, try to go too far, but to be
content with what can be done now.
We must bear in mind that what may
only be moderately good is yet a mini
mum part of the IDEAL"
Two noteworthy points in this inter-
view are those referring to the nations
to be invited TO the next conference
and NJ. Vivianis expressed hope that no
majority decision will be taken at
Washington.
1t would seem to be already fore
seen that Germany, and perhaps Rus
sia. may be invited to future confer
ences. and II they are invited in condi-
tlons that do not represent the mini
MIN OF satisfaction to France the latter
country may have TO consider her posi-
ton carefully. Secondly, ii. Vivianis
statement that q majority decision at the
Washington conference would be regret
table seems to refer to a possible dis
agreement on the naval ratio of France
and Italy.
France is understood TO demand 31o.-
GOO to $4,000 tons in capital ships and
5000 tons in submarines. According to
recent reports, Italy and France stand
together and viii support each others
naval QcnanuS. Italy VIII Ddch
Frances desire for high submarine
tonnage in exchange for Frances help in
Italy's wish for a large allotment OF
capital ships.
AT to-day's meeting OF the conference
committee was appointed to deal with
naval affairs after NJ Viviani's depar-
ture. France appointed NJ Sarraut. NJ.
Jusserand and Admiral De Bon, the Brit
ish and Japanese also naming their two
chief delegates and their leading naval
expert The agreement reached Is that
in naval matters the chief naval experts
of the various delegations are to be
chief spokesmen instead of the heads OF
the delegations.
The japanese are understood TO be still
Withholding their final assent to the
5-5-3 ratio. although this is perhaps
nothing but n dispomatic move, pending
settlement of some other questions af-
fecting Japan.