Evening star., 1921-12-25
ENGLAND'S PLAN FOR
ABOLITION FAILURE
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tied-and there was no indication last
night that it would be modifed-wih
mean the defeat of the American pro-
posal to reduce radically the submarine
tonnage of the powers. The Washing
ton conference is not governed by ma
jority action All Of it's decisions must
be unanimous to be effective.
May Revert to 10000 Tons.
Unless the Hughes proposal Of yes
terday with regard to submarines is
accepted, it is expected the American
delegation will revert to its original
proposal of 10000 tons for the United
States and Great Britain and $4,000
for Japan, and proportionate tonnage
for France and Italy. But France. 1t
is said, will ask for a very considerable
increase in submarine tonnage, per-
haps as high as $4,000 in that event,
it is not expected that Great Britain
and the other powers will agree to
Frances having such a large sub
marine tonnage.
The submarine question has become
a serious tangle. it was admitted last
night by a high American authority
in conference circles. So much so that
the conference may eventually have
to go ahead without fixing submarine
tonnage for the various nations rep
resented here, but agreeing to capital
ship tonnage and perhaps some of the
lauXiliary tonnage other than sub
marines.
Discussion Brought to Close.
The discussion in committee of
Great Britains proposal for the abo-
jlition of the submarine was brought
to close when Secretary Hughes
offered the American proposal for a
limitation of submarine tonnage. 1t
is expected, however, that the British
will ask to have their day in an open
session Of the Washington conference.
so that the British plan may have
wider circulation among the peoples
of the world. 1t is their hope TO build
up sentiment against the submarine
that in the end will bring about its
elimination.
Mr.. Hanihara of the Japanese dele
cation stated the Japanese position
or the proposal of Secretary Hughes
to limit the submarine tonnage still
further. He SAID:
| "The japanese delegation hoped
that it had made clear, at the time
W hen the provisional agreement was
reached between the United States,
Great Britain and Japan on the ques-
ton of the capital ship ratio. that the
acceptance by Japan of the ratio OF
5-5-3 meant for Japan considerable
sacrifice. Yet because of her desire
to contribute toward the achievement
of the great object for which the con-
ference had been called Japan finally
accepted the said ratio under various
great difficulties. In the same manner
Japan was prepared to accept the
same ratio in regard to submarines.
That would have given Japan $4,000
tons. So far as Japan is concerned
this figure was considered as the min
inum amount of submarine tonnage
with which the insular position ,of
Japan could be adequately defended.
Felt Constrained to Insist.
'The new proposal was to allow
the United States and Great Britain
so. 200 tons each, while France, Italy
and japan were to maintain the
status quo in regard to their respec-
tive submarine tonnage. In other
words, under this new plan, Japan
would be allowed to have only 81, 900
tons That was considered by the
Japanese delegation to be wholly in