Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-22

who privately expressed themselves
as unable to understand how such a
+ situation had developed.
No further explanation was forth
/ coming from the White House or
| from members OF the American rroup
! III the conference. but il was declared
IL. state Derartent circles that there
existed mo- question of the attitude
OF the American governments The
! Interpretation OF the American dele
CATION. it was said. holding that the
treaty does not apply TO the major
Japanese islands, stood as the official
American view
The trcaty's opponents in the SEN
ate took advantage OF the lull in
conference Developments to Launch
another attack. which conferred about
yesterdays White House statement
4" Hear BrItnin on Submarine.
At tonorrOw's meeting of the fun
naval committee there may also he
presentation OF Great Britain's plca
FOR total abolition OF the submarine.
At first the British delegates had
suggested that they lay their ease
before the pmllic in plcnary scs-
sion. but II WAS decided that the more
practical course would be to start
the discussion in executive session
The statement now being prepared
on the subject Of Lord Lee. however.
probably will be made public after
II has been laid before the committee.
and unless there is a committee de
c'sion favorable To the British View
there probably will he n public scS-
sion later for. general discussion of
the subject.
The delegates Of Great Britain. al
though apparently not intending to
press their request To the point OF
greatly rrolonsing the conference,
have prepared 10 make a stubborn
fight at least for a great reduction
IN the submarine strength now un-
der consideration and have cancelled
their plans for leaving the United
States on December 81. They now
expect 10 depart about the middle
OF January.
French want Many SubmrrsihIcs.
The French have not revealed what
submarine tonnage they will request.
but IL is known that figures running
AZ high as 10000 tons have been un-
der consideration by mcmbcrt; of the
delegation That would he more than
double tho present strength of the
French submarine ncct. and so high
that there seems little doubt ii
would meet with determined oppoSi-
,ion. II has been hintcd that in any
final settlement OF the auxiliary
question a large submarine tonnage
for France might he balanced on by
a large cruiser and destroyer tom
mage Sor Great Britain because she
is tho nation who admittedly has
most To fear from any use Of sub
marines as offensive weapons.
May End Work by Christmas Eve.
When a plcnary session VIII be
held. and the question whether there
will be recess OF more than one
day for Christmas. both are said to
hinge on Developments 1T tomor-
rows committee meeting. II the
views OF France take y,rnn easily
acceptable to the other delegations
IL IS not impossible that work viii
continue NJ To- Christmas Eve in the
hope that Il nnal settlement can he
nuounccd TO tho world as tho Christ
mas present Of the conferences
In discussions Of the Horsepower
treaty the American delegates are
said TO take tho view that the lam
t;mage OF the pact so clearly includes
the major Japanese islands that no
reservation on the subject Will he
necessary when the question OF rati-
iication is formally under considcra-
tion by the Senate. Inclusion OF
these islands. contrary to the inter-
probation Of President Harding IL