The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-28
Possibility That Whole
Submarine Issue May
Be Postponed To a Fu-
ture Session-OHicials
Up In the Air AS To the
Outlook

Washington, Dec. 2S.-(AssOciated
Press Hope for an agreement to
limit submarine tonnage was declared
abandoned today mt a meeting OF the
arms conference naval committee.
The demand by France YOr sub
marine tonnage OF 10000 tons, ap-
pr0ximately three times as large as
contemplated under the American
compromise proposal, is declared by
delegates to have closed the door TO
any agreement, the compromise pro.
pOsal having been rejected finally and
completely by the French. Casting
aside the possibility of harmOnizing
views on tonnage, the American dele
gates brought forth new proposal
TO limit the size of submarines and
other auxiliary craft to the maximum
OF ten thousand tons.
Washington, Dec. 2S.-(By the AS
sociated Press)-France's last word
on the question of limitation of sub
marine tonnage-a reiteration of her
claim as sent forth last week by her
naval experts-will be delivered to-
day to the arms conference, it was
said by members of the French dele
cation as they went into today's meet
ing of the conference naval commit
tee.
Reports that there might be further
discussion of the subject with a view
to persuading France to pare down
her claims was regarded by the
French delegates as Joke.
Washington, Dec 2S.-(By the AS
sociated Press.)-The American com
promise proposal for settlement of
the question of submarine tonnage on
basis of the statue quo for France.
Italy and Japan and a reduction to
10000 each for the United States and
Great Britain appeared almost certain
of failure today through objection by
France and Japan when the full naval
committee of the conference resumed
sessions for the first time since Sat
urday.
While the nature of the instructions
from the French government on the
submarine question received by the
French delegation late yesterday had
not been revealed, it was said in re-
spcnsible circles that France would
formally disagree to the American
proposal under which she would be
allotted about 10000 tons of sub
marines against the 10000 ton figure
suggested by French naval experts as
her minimum requirements. Whether
the French delegates were authorized
to make any compromise on the latter
figure spokesman for the delegation
declined to say. Japanese delegates
already have flatly rejected the Amer
ican proposal which would reduce
their submarine allotment from $4,000
tons under the original limitation
plan to $1,000 tons and although they
are cooperating with Toxic in :he
situation there was no indication to-
day that they intended to recede from
their demands for the higher figure.
Should the American plan be finally
rejected, what the next step may he
in an effort to solve the submarine
problem. upon..ssWhich apparently
hinges the entire question of limita-
ton of auxiliary warship tonnage had
not been indicated today
With so wide differ ence OF
opinion revealed in the submarine
controversy, however, there appeared
to be an increasing disposition among
the delegates to consider plan for
leaving the whole question of aux
Hilary tonnage to a later international
conference In highest American Of
fetal circles it was said that con-
crete proposal for future confer
ence might be laid before the dele
gates within few days.