Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1921-12-20
I acceptance >of lower percentage
In sHcapital ships. This appeared
today to otter Tho most favorable
basis for solution Of the prob
want Good Defepse.

l#a4e .IE# ---& 4LraL He<lEaELEt.E
Want Good DefeDse.
The French plan as presented, It
was understood, proposed a fleet pro-
portion in the several claSses Of. craft.
30 as to give SFfAnce q navy that
could be devoted largely to defensive
Purposes.
The presentation Of N. aarraut, It
was learned. was largely one Of prin-,
ciples, much attention being given to
the necessity felt by. France. for ade-,
quate defence. The French delega-
ton indicated frances willingness to
make concessions on capital ship tom
mage but not az to submerHbles and
other auxiliaries.
Submarine Problem Complicseod.
Washington, Dec. 20.-The prob
lem Of Submarines, which u TO 'be,
taken upfas soon. as the Ave power
ratio for capital ships Is. settled,
presents increasing complications.
Great Britain wants 10 abolish the
submarine and has asked for the priv
tlege OF presenting her case against
ence. There 70 no expectation, wen
by the British themselves, however,
that they will carry the point, but
they do hope to cut in half the sub
marine tonnage Tentatively suggested
for the United States. Great Britain
and Japan: I,
Under. this plan, Great Britain would
have 10000 tons in submarines, the
United States 10000. and Japan 81. 900.
basis. a 175.oo0 tonlscapital ship fleet
for France would allow her q SUBJ
marine tonnage Of G 1000 tons. That
would be very far below the figure the
French desire. =
The British desire to restrict close
" submarine construction Is said to
rest not only on. consideration Of
humanity, but on principles of nation
nj defense.t Submarines have reach
really effective only in narrow wa
ters such as Sthose through which
great Britain has to convey her food
supply. When used against merchant
men, the underwater craft also conf
%stttutes a ena to the maritime ma.
lions.
French naval experts, however, and
perhaps those also Of Italy and Japan
the activities Of the submarine against
merchant shipping can be curtailed
BY an agreement on new rules Of war
fare, leaving only purely military
considerations involved. Not being
SO directly dependent as Great Britain
Is the navigation of narrow waters
the other powers look at the question
from the standpoint Of the demon.
strated strategic value of the subma,
rine in the light of experience Of the
world war. They agree that not only
Is the submerdble an efficient weap.
on Of coast defense. but it also has
shown that It can challenge sea su-
pretnacy in important areas.
AS the capital ship problem verges
toward a decision. the naval experts
of all thetpowers arc giving more and
more OF their attention to the subma,
rine question as one likely to present
q troublesome knot for the conference
70 unite. !.
Adh4ricass Elxcrscd Pressure.
Although The French capital s!air
discussions stmrnercd down at thei,
crucial stage to direct exchanges be.
and, 1t was learned today that tn,
American DELEGATES repeatedly hai
sought to- impress on the French rep.
reaentAtives here, in informal confer.
ence, the necessity for recession
from the $50 .o0o-ton plan.
In these behond consul.
tations the French delegates were told
oy their American colleagues thai
they were proceeding on a false basi.
which should be destroyed before i
would be possible 20 erect any SOUND
structure to shelter the conceptions o,
relief Of the world from the ,,heav,
burdens Of competitive naval, in.
creases. Il
It was pointed out America had thu
right to recall to the French mind thu
primary purpose Of the conference tt
| Which France had subscribed wher
she accepted the invitation. 49,
The purpose, Il was said, vas no
to fix what. should be the nava
strength of the various nations at thi,
conference, but simply to get them. Il
agree to stop the ruinous race fol
naval supremacy. 1t was pointed gu
that America had voluntarily under,
taken to throw into the depahs Of tn,
ocean ships to the value OF $500, 900,
600. and that Great Britain had me
this proposal by agreeing to duplicat,
It. Then 1t was asked what sacrific,
was France to make to compensat,
these concessions
Paris Dec. 2o.-(By The Associated
Press. )-Viscomte Gustave de Ker,
suezeo, a member Of the French sen,
ate naval committee, today was quot,
ed as having said in an interview tina,
he was astounded when the heard O
the French ,d~elSgation's naval propos
al at the Washington conference.
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