Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-12-20

British spokesman said they considered
the question of submarines so important
that the whole naval program is conting-
ent upon arriving at an agreement con-
cerning their numbers and future use.
British quarters took pains to point
out that the agreement on the 5-5-3 ratio
between Great Britain, the United States
and Japan, was conditional upon suit
able agreement" being worked out for
France and Italy. If such an agreement
is not worked out with regard to French
and Italian ratios, then the whole pro-
gram is endangered according to British
views.
The international fiare-up occasioned
by Frances ambitious demand for ten
new capital ships has begun TO die down.
Realizing their position on the cayital
ship issue is untenable and impossible
of recognition Iy the other powers, the
French are willing to withdraw from it
on condition they are adequately taken
care OF In the matter of auxiliary ships
Submarines light cruisers, airplane car
riers, etc, but principally in the mat
ter of submarines.
This is the burden of the instructions
that have been received from Premier
BRAND which have already been COM
municated to Secretary of State Hughes.
and which according to authoritative
sources will be communicated to the con-
florence as a whole by NJ. Sarrault.
FRENCH WISH TO
MODERNIZE NAVY.
The French want their navy modern-
lied and they will conduct a strenuous
campaign for it behind the great bronze
door of the Pan American building. They
have practically no postwar capital ships
and they will insist that permission be
given them to bring their navy up to.
date
1t was freely predicted in conference
circles that in view of developments in
the last forty eight hours, France win ac-
crept capital ship ratio of around II
or ,. as compared with 5-5-3 between
Great Britain. japan and the United
States and will thereafter wage unceasing
warfare for a big submarine allotment
BY the strange twist of circumstances,
the submarine and capital ship issues
have been so intertwined that it viii be
difficult if not impossible for them to
be considered separately, as was decided
by the chief powers. BY the same strange
twist, France will have the support of
the other great powers when the subma-
rine issue is taken up. and Great Britain
will be found standing alone with her
back to the wall, in much the same po-
sition France is in with regard to the
big ships.
FEELING BETWEEN FRENCH
AND BRITISH INTENSIFIED.
The chief result of the French capital
ship fare-up has been to intensity the
bitter feeling between the French and
British delegations here and to intensity
the opposition which will greet Great
Britain's proposal for the abolition of
the submarine. French expert opinion is
now in favor of great force of subma-
rines to offset Britains preponderant sea
strength as never before. The combined
opposition of American, French. italian
and Japanese naval opinion to the Britt
ish position would seem to indicate that
the conference will make short work OF
it once it gets down to actual consider
alton.
Meanwhile negotiations were opened 10
set the exact capital ship ratios of France
and Italy. Italy's existing strength is
figured at 16S and Frances at 1.70. The
insistence of Secretary of State Hughes
that existing strength is the sole basis
for fixing ratios indicates that the ulti-
mate ratios Of the two chief Mediterranean
powers will not be materially different
from these figures. Italy will be salts
fed with anything that is given France
and her spokesmen have indicated they
will not haggle over fractional percen-
tages.
While the naval committee irons out the
wrinkles over ratios, the Far East mat
ters are nearly at a standstill China
and Japan are pushing slowly ahead in
the direction of an agreement concerning
Shantung, but elsewhere the conference
hangs fire.