Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-12-24
ARMS DELEGATES
SPLIT DEBATE OVER
TWO BIC QUESTIONS
Continued From ,sir., p.

> ,-1-- IRON First Pagc)
tlnuing series OF international meet
Mss. me conversations have not,
however, reached q formal stage
1t Is the hope OF conferenc. Lad
crs that committee discussion OF Tho
proposal for abolition OF tho sub
marine may be concluded tomorrow
ana In some quarters II Is believed
mat after Christmas the ncgotia-
IONS relating TO the Far East VIII
DO resumed concurrcntly with the
exchanges on auxiliary naval tom
mage. Tho Japancae hope by that
time To have further Instructions
which also Will permit resumption
or the Shantung conversations.
Al today's meeting OF the naval
committee. Admiral de Bon pre-
scented at great length the French
viewpoint regarding submarines,
arguing that underwater craft not
only were Legitimate weapons when
properly used. but that they have
defensive value that make them In
dispcnsable 10 any important naval
nation.
Have Much to Fear.
Replying for Great Britain. Arthur
]. Balfour used illustrations drawn
from the experiences Of France her
self during the world war 10 support
his argument against tho sub
marines value as an arm OF defense.
He added that both France and
Italy. who are opposing the british
proposal. have much to fear from
the submarine IL employed in tho
fleet OF nm enemy in any future war.
Tho opposition Of Italy was con-
tinucd by Senator Schanzcr. who as
serted that the long italian coast
line made tho under surface warship
an important element of national de-
tense. The Japanese delegates, who
also have expressed opposition TO tho
British proposal. and the Americans.
who have rcfraincd from taking
definite position. did not join In to-
days discussions.
Throughout the argument, however,
the American delegates professcd to
see an increasing tendency to fall
back on the American proposal pre-
scented yesterday for the drafting of
an international agreement which
VIII make impossible any ruthless use
OF the submarine such as Mortified tho
world during the last war. The ex-
changes have not yet reached a point
where formal expressions on the pro-
posal are possible. but the Americans
appear to believe that in tho end the
whole subject will resolve itself into
proposition to regulate rather than
to abolish.
Needs Are Varying.
The estimates as to auxiliary tons
mage received from Paris during the
day by the French delegates are
closely guarded. but they are known
10 call for considerable more in sub
marines and cruisers than would BIO
allotted If the capital ship ratios were
applied down through all classes of
auxiliary craft. II is tho view OF tho
French, however. and apparently OF
some OF the other delegations, that
such an application Of the proportion
ate strength tables would he mad
Hisable, since different powers have
varying needs for different classes Of
auxiliaries.
Tonight Admiral dc Bon's address
was described by Albert Sarraut, head
OF the French delegation, as embody-
Ing the entire French thesis" as to
the lesser types OF warships. The
admiral, he said. made n presentation
OF principles rather than figures. in
the belief that the bases of tho dis
cussion should be we'll established be-
fore the delegates passed on to de-
tails. In other French quarters Il
nope was expressed that at tomor-
rows meeting tho American group
would present some definite PROPOSAL
Tor regulation of submarine warfare.
including perhaps limitations on tho
size and cruising radius of sub
mersibles that may be constructed in
the future.
Until all the proposals involving
possible abolition of the submarine
and possible restrictions on size and
use have been disposed or the
French hold, 1t would be useless to
bring forward any concrete estimate
for the future auxiliary fleet OF any
nation.