Arizona republican., 1921-12-18
FRENCH DEMAND F0R
 NAVAL INCREASE NIT APPROVED BY PARIS
Conference Developments Take Hopeful Turn WHh Report 10 Ship Program Made With out Paris GoUernnent ApproDal; Shan tung RaillUay Controversy Wears End
Republican A. P. Leased wireI

WASHINGTON, Dec. 17.-Confer- ence developments took a new and hopeful turn tonight when it became known that the French ten ship building plan was submitted without the approval of the Paris government and that direct conversations be- tween China and Japan had brought the Shantung controversy near settle ment.
 Naval subcommittee action toward five-power pact on naval limitation awaits an answer from Premier Briand on both the ten ship project submitted by French delegates here, and upon the joint counter proposaA eoncurred in by Great Britain, the United States, Japan and Italy that France accept capital ship strength of 175,000 tons as compared with present 164,0 900 tons in dreadnaughts. : three hour session of the subcom- laittee today was largely taken up by Albert Saurraut, head of the French delegation, in presenting views of French naval experts now here. Secretary Hughes made a brief reply tending to stimulate good feel- ing among the committee members. The official communique, however, would admit nothing beyond the facts that the committee met. talked, ad- journed and would meet again.
 Settlement of the ShantGng prob lem apparently depends on satisfac- tory arrangement of a few details in- volyed in Japanese return of the Tsing Tao Tsinan Flu railroad in the kiao- Chow leasehold. Further in- sanctions were received today by the 7 J apanese delegates and although their exact nature was not disclosed there was evident tonight among both Japanese and Chinese a feeling that a final agreement was only a ques- tion of hours.
 As to the French proposals for a new fleet of 10 35.000-ton capital ships, which stunned conference cir cles when they first became known yesterday, it was learned that they were framed here by direction of Ad- rniral de Bon, chief French naval ex- pert, under his authority from the delegation to present the views of the French naval general staff Pre- mier Briand and former Premier Ni- yiani both had left before the pro- posals were framed. The Paris gov ernment has been informed by cable of the situation.
 In Original Proposal
 It was evident tonight that the f75,0O0 ton capital ship limitation for France was proposed by the American delegation originally Italy's spokesman in the subcommit- tee, Senator SchanZer, replied that Italy accepted the American point oi view as to tonnage and would be satisfied with 175, 900 tons if France accepted that figure.
 The position of the Italian delega- ton, as it is understood to have beer developed, is that Italy had two prir- cjpIes to maintain in the naval ratio discussion. one that the Italian navy should be on an equality with that of any other power in the Medlter- ranean. and. two. that the Italian ratio should be as low as possible fol Italy's purely defensive purposes Ualy's agreement to the American T35. GOO ton ratio, conditions only or acceptance of that ratio by France followed.
 Knowledge that the French ter ship building plan, which up. to to- night had seemed a stumbling block was merely the suggestion of tht French naval staff here as to what | deemed desirable for France, put new face on the deliberations. The action of the French experts in out thing their views was not only. l |. is understood authorized by tht French delegation as means t' hiring about full discussion Of th' general problem of naval relativities bIlt it was so supported by conference precedent.
 gthe only written prescription Q Japan's first claim to naval ratl' r,f 70 per cent as compared to tn A,,,erican fleet. so far as known, wa made by Japanese experts in In ,riginal committee of experts, aban
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