The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-22
NAVY CUT TERMS
ARE ACCEPT ABLE
TO TWO NATIONS
France and Italy Consent to
Sec'y Hughes Plan.
American Delegates Cause Split
on Gas Question.
FRANCE PARTLY WINS VICTORY
Conference Ready to Allow Ma
tiOn Real Naval Needs.
May Be Given Almost Same
Tonnage as Japan.
American Delegates Cause Spill
ON Gas Question.
FRANCE PARTLY WINS VICTORY
Conference Ready to Allow Ma
tiOn Real Naval Needs.

Washington. Dec. %. - Statements
in behalf of France and Italy, accept
ing formally the American proposals
for Limitation of capital ships ar
mament were made today at the meet
tng Of the delegates of the five major
powers of the Washington conference.
Contrary to general expectations
the question of auxiliary craft. sub
marines and cruisers, was not reached
at the morning session of the COM
mittee. but went over until another
meeting at 3 o'clock.
French Cause Delay.
The French delegation, it was said,
was not ready at the morning ses-
sion to proceed with the discussion
Of the auxiliary tonnage as they had
not received instructions from their
government. The delegation said it
was hoped to have the instructions for
the afternoon meeting.
The British delegation which had
planned to state its case in opposition
to submarines as d naval arm, also
withheld it's statement at the morning
session, which was said to have been
confined largely 10 preliminary gen
eral discussion and the clearing up of
the capital ship ration question.
Split on Gas Issue.
A split between the American eX-
perts and those of other nations over
the question of gas in Warfare-with
America standing out alone against its
total abolition-was disclosed today in
Italian official quarters.
The American experts have taken
this attitude, according to an Italian
spokesman, that, while the abolition
of gas is highly desirable, it is i'm
r,Fa
no nation with chemical factories can
be relied upon TO refrain from using
il in war time.
A stage equally as critical as that
presented by Japans demand for an
increased capital ship ratio was reach
ed by the armament conference today
when France laid before the assembled
powers her program of auxiliary ships
submarines, cruisers and torpedo
boats-the possession of which her
spokesmen deem vital to Frances
safety.
The strictest secrecy surrounded
the French program. The French
worked it out themselves and the
spokesmen of the other great powers
prOfessed ignorance before today's
momentous session as to the exact ma
ture of the French proposals.
Subj Are Chief Issue.
The little submarine has replaced
the big battleship as the fighting is
sue of the conference. Upon the abil-
ity of the powers to reach an agree
ment concerning submarines rests the
whole success of the conference. This
much was admitted today as the dele
gates assembled behind closed doors
in the Pan-American building to start
the ball a rolling.
While the French remain silent
about their auxiliary craft program,
the belief prevails among other dele
cations that NJ. Sarraut and Admiral
De Bon will demand a minimum of
$4,000 tons of undersea fighting craft
as essential to French safety. B This
figure is only 1000 tons less than pro-
posed for Japan in the original
Hughes program and it is regarded
as certain that any such figure for
france will meet with bitter opposi-
ton from British representatives
British Fight for Abolition.
Great Britain win make an eloquent
plea and hard fight for the abolition
of the submarine, but her spokesmen
already are aware that the fight is
lost. Americans. Japanese, French
and Italians all want to retain the
undersea boats as an offset to Britain's
preponderance in the shipping world
But Britain will make her fight
anyhow, that the record may show she
tried and failed. The British will then
concentrate their efforts at lowering
the tonnage allotments to the last pos
sible degree.
France Partially Victorious.
The French went into today's meet
ing with victory partly won Itwas
the original intention of the confer
ence trainers to have all navies regu-
lated by the ratio system-5OO 600 tons
OF capital ships calling for 10000 tons
of submarines and commensurate aux
thary craft, and as, in the case of
Japan, 100000 tons of capital ships
calling for $4,000 tons of undersea
craft.
II this ratio were carried out in the
case Of France, it would leave her ap-
proximateiy $4,000 tons of submarines
which she considers entirely satisfac-
tory.
Powers Are Yielding.
The other powers have yielded on
thls question, it was learned officially
today, The strength of each nation
IN each auxiliary fighting ship will be
determined on a system of national
needs, instead of system of ratio,
Ihe ultimate tonnage that will be
aIoLted to France therefore. will de-
pend upon how much she can con-
vince the other powers she needs.