Evening star., 1921-12-18
LIKELY TO REACH
RATIO AGREEMENT
FOR FRENCH NAVY
More Optimistic Atmosphere
Surrounds Discussion of
Ten-Ship Plea.
PARIS ASKED FOR ADVICE
BY DELEGATION HERE
Italy Ready to Accept LIS Ratio,
Advanced by United States
as Alternative.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.
American and French conference
circles both expressed hope last night
that the controversy which has arisen
over the naval ratio to be fixed for
program would be settled satisfac-
torily to all parties
In fact, while the seriousness Of the
situation was not minimized, there
was distinctly q more optimistic at
mosphere. Actual discussion of the
demands Of France has been post
poned until the committee Of fifteen"
meets again tomorrow morning.
Paris today has taken the position
in conference matters which was held
by Toxic two weeks ago. The French
delegates, it is said. have cabled to
their home government asking in
structions.
Presented by de Bon.
In fact, two of Frances principal
delegates have left Washington
Premier BRAND and former Premier
Viviani. While the details Of the
meetings Of the committee Of fifteen
are withheld, it has been learned that
the French proposal for the construc-
tion Of ten capital ships in the decade
beginning 1925 was laid before the
conference by Admiral de Bon, chief
Frencvh proposal was defended In
committee by M. Sarraut, present head
of the French delegation, at yester-
days meeting of the committee.
Whether the French government
plans to back up this proposal or is
willing to consider some other, as. for
instance. the suggestion that France
be satisfied with a ratio of LIS in
.saeeAa ri as5.. must be learned by cable.
U. s. PROPOSES LIS ,natis. sss~-
The proposal that the ratio for
France and for Italy. too. should be
LIS, it is learned, was advanced by
the United States. 1t would give
France and Italy an increase in capi-
tai tonnage over what they now pos
sess. Italy is ready to accept such a
and Japan have approved the plan.
Having settled the naval affairs of
the Pacific, the conference is now en-
gagged in settling the naval affairs of
the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
A plea for calmness came last night
from French headquarters here. NJ.
Sarraut. now head Of the French
delegation, declared that he saw no
reason for the emotion" with which
the demands of France have been dis
cussed in the newspapers. Through
an interpreter, he declared that he
had not discussed the desires of
France in an emotional way before
the committee of fifteen.
Sentiments Not Changed.
The French, he said, had come to
Washington at the invitation of the
United States to collaborate in an
effort to preserve peace and limit
armament. The sentiments of the
French. he said, had not changed.
They were working toward this end.
But" said NJ. Sarraut in effect,
1.-The three. great naval powers-the
United States. Great Britain and
Japan-thought it wise to settle their
naval problems first. They were at
work on the matter for five weeks
before they reached settlement
Why, then, should France be expected
to settle the question of naval ratio
in three days?"
Sees No Occasion for Heat.
The French program. he said, was
now being discussed. M. Sarraut in
emotional and cordial and that there
was every prospect of its proceeding
amicably. He saw no occasion. he
said, for heat either within the COM
mittee room or outside of it.
M Sarraut still continued to re-
fuse to discuss the French naval pro-
gram in detail. He refused to say
whether France was or was not ask
ing for $4,000 tons of capital ships.
From other sources, however, it
was learned that the French have so
far not retreated at all from their re-
quest. for that tonnage, and for the
privilege Of building ten capital
ships Of $4,000 tons each. within the
ten-year period from 1925 to 1885.
Demands Closely Guarded.
1t may be said at this point, how
svsr, that the spokesman for the
American delegation gave no inkling
as to this matter. In fact, the Amer
lean delegation is leaning over back.
ward in its efforts not to make pub
lie anything connected with the
French demands. The American idea
apparently is that any statement with
regard to the French demands should
como from the French, II they desire
to make q statement at this time. All
that the Americans are contending
for is that there shall be opportunity
for full. free and frank discussion of
the matter In the committee.
To the American mind, however. the
question at issue is as clear as sun
light" The Limitation Of armament
conference was called to limit arma-
nents, not to build them up.
says Error Has Crept In.
While NJ. Sarraut would not discuss
the reported demand Of France for
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