The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1921-12-21
HUGHES ASKS BRAND MEAN
ING OF new FRENCH STAND
French Government Demands
Naval Ratio Permitting
$4,000 Tonnage.

Washington, Dec. 1S.-Secretary
Charles Evans Hughes as chairman
of the armament conference, has
communicated directly with Premier
Aristide BRAND of France regarding
the situation which has developed
as a result Of the stand of the
French delegation upon the ques-
tion of naval ratios.
Mr.. Hughes is understood to have
called the attention of M. BRAND to
1.-THE entirely unexpected nature of
the French proposal and to it's fail
ure to harmonize with the basic
principles on which the limitation
of naval ornaments plan was drawn.
Ne Ratio Now Called Official
The French proposal for a capital
ship ratio permitting her to con-
struct and maintain $4,000 tons
which, when first presented to the
Naval Committee of the Armament
Conference, was understood to be
merely a suggestion, now is de-
clared to have the. full support of
the French Government.
This was the outstanding develop
ment today in connection with the
conference, and was accepted in
most quarters as considerably post
poning what had been predicted
would be an early adjournment of
the Washington meeting.
With agreement definitely reached
on the n-British-Japanese
ratios and with the Shantung "con-
versations" moving steadily toward
an amicable understanding between
the Chinese and Japanese negotia-
tors, most delegations had prepared
to arrange the remaining affairs of
the conference in which they were
interested so that subordinate COM
= missions might be left to handle
them.
Firm Opposition Seen
The impression gained among
other delegations was that if France
insisted on the $3.50 ratio COM
prised in the proposal put forward
Thursday, she would find solid op-
position confronting the suggestion.
Neither from the standpoint of
national security nor from that of
present status" on which the
whole scheme of limitation is built,
it was declared, could the French
delegation defend the claim to such
naval concert.
France Has Explanation
While much regret is expressed
over the>impression that appears to
exist among the delegates Of the
three major naval Powers that
France has surprised them by ask
ing more than had been expected,
members of the French delegation
consider this as in no sense their
responsibility because they gave
their figures as soon as they were
asked to do so.
Mr.. Brands acceptance in princi-
pie of Mr.. Hughes plan according
to French circles was, it is indicated,
/. not an acceptance of the status quo
of navies, but an acceptance of "the
principle of naval limitation"
The notes Of his speech In the
French text. 1t is averred, show that
this was the case and that all of the
criticism of France outside the con-
ference as having changed her atti-
tude since that speech is due to
misconception of what he really
said.
Both Sides Are Firm
Although the Frech naval plan it.
self stipulates that no new capital
ship shall be laid down before 1926,
the view Of the French Government
It is affirmed. is that building can
be begun in that year and regularly
continued. because by that time II is
expected that French finances will
have recovered sufficiently to per-
nit of this expnditure. a
There apparently is little expecta-
tion in American. British, Japanese
or Italian circles that the French
Government will insist rigidly on
the, proposal Of its naval experts, al
ready presented to the conference
for French capital feet of $780,
900 tons, but at the same time
enough Of French opinion on the
subject has been revealed to dampen
hona that the counter proposal for a