Arizona republican., 1921-12-19
FRANCE PLANS COMPLETE
 REPLACEMENT OF BATTLE FLEET IN TWENTY YEARS
Conference Authority States NaUal Proposal Presented With Full Authority of French Gouernn1ent; French Delegates Contend Plan Presented Is Entirely Reasonable.
IRepubIican A. p. Leased wIreI


 WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S-Propos als made by the French delegation Thursday to the naval committee Of the armament conference include a definite schedule of construction which contemplated the replacement by 1941 of the present French battle fleet by ten new ships totaling 35o,- | GOO tons.
 The proposals and the accompany ] ing schedule of planned construction | were presented with the full author ity of the French government, it was learned on best authority tonight. | and were not, as has been indicated | in some quarters. merely "a ten tatve departmental plan" Authoritative French opinion as ] obtained tonight was that the plan and it's resulting ratio for France was | entirely reasonable. It was made plain that there was no disposition to modify the proposals in their vital | features. or to accept the 175,000 ton ratio proposed by the American dele gation.
 The first new ships would be laid down in 1926. under the French plans submitted to the committee and each year the keel of aIt additional ship ] would be laid to gradually replace and augment the present capital ship
 tonnage of France which, in the | opinion of her government, is anti | Quated in design and inadequate to
 properly protect the nations inter
 est.
 The naval experts of the French | delegation estimated that the last of
 the new ships would be ready for
 service in 1941. or not before 10 years
 after the period of the naval holiday
 contemplated in the limitation agree
 Inent now before the conference.
 French Naval Plan
 Essential features of the French
 plan were submitted in a table illu-
 strating proposed construction, as follows:
 Year Capital ship tonnage.
 ls26-1e4.o0o Gall old dread
 naughts).
 IssI-2Oo.OOO Gwo new; six old dreadnaughts).
 lsss-2s5.oOO Gone old, seven new dreadnaughtsl.
 1s4i-s5O.oOO Cten new dread naughts).
 An analysis. 1t was explained ' would show that the French navs
 aften 10 years, would figure abow
 100000 tons of capital ships. includ- l ing two new dreadreughts. and thai r this would be only 60,0O0, represent . ing approximately the tonnage of the a two new ships, over the allotment
 made to France under the American plan
 f what transpired Thursday. Friday and Saturday.
 No recommendation for change has been made from the delegation and . no supplementary instructions have been derived from Paris The con
 viction exists in the delegation that none would be received unless recom- mended by the delegation. Members z are confident that the more their figures are examined the less vii they be opposed by either the Amer
 ican government or American pub lie opinion. but even if they were found unacceptable, they declare it is 2 not seen how they could be reduced
 materially. having in view the . strength of the colonial party iu 5, France. This, it was explained. is c composed of senators and deputies O of all political groups who are de n voted to the development of Frenck g possessions. The trade with the
 French colonies is now upward of two IT billion francs a year. a Figures Answer Request - If public opinion is to be the guide e for the French delegation. it was e pointed out by its members. French a opinion is the only one they can fol = low.
 V While much regret, is expressed - over the impression that appears tC If exist among the delegates of the
 three major naval powers tha'
 France has surprised them by asking
 more than had been expected
 French delegates consider this as il
 no sense their responsibility because
 they gave their figures when they
 were asked to do so.
 ! Rr-inndfG aRrPntapQa |. principle of Mir. Hughes plan, ac y cording to French circles. was. it il
 indicated. not an acceptance of tn = status quo If naVies but an accept ,t ance of the principle of naval linn a i itation."
 l. Although the French naval plal d stipulates that no new capital ship u shall be laid down before 1926, tn l. view of the French government, it i ,e affirmed, is that building can b
 begun in that year and regulari ,e continued because by that time it i ,- expected French finances will hav -s recovered sufficiently to permit thi " expenditure.
 Many members of the arms con