Evening star., 1921-12-22
FRENCH AWAITING
PARIS ADV|CES ON
: TONNAGE FIGURES
Naval Committee Meeting
Given Over to Proposals
Covering Submarine.
ENGLISH MAY PRESENT
ABOLITION CASE TODAY
France Is Expected to Ask for
10000 Tons of Under
sea Craft.
ny G.. GOULD LINCOLN.

sea Craft.
by G.. GOULD LINCOLN.
The committee on limitation OF arm
auent of the Washington conference
when ii met i'll the pan-American
l,iiIding today had two important
matters pending. the British proposal
Tor the abolition of submarines and
the French proposal for increased
auxiliary tonnage. including subma-
rIueS.
owing to the fact that the French
delegates were still awaiting lnstruc-
tions from France regarding the toh-
mage of auxiliary Vessels. anu MeIs 1s
rot prepared to make their proposals
.,day, the meeting this morning was
~:iven over to general discussion: the
French position being Stated IN y
General way by Admiral de Bon, ana
the Italian position by Senator Schan-
zrr. head Of the Italian delegation.
Secretary Hughes for the Americans
also made a statement.
Meets Again Today.
The committee adjourned at O'Clock
to meet again at pm. The supposi-
tiou was that al the meeting this after
noon the British would present thelf
case for the abolition of submarines;
The discussion of the submarines ana
other auxiliary vessels is expected 10
develop along interchange of ideas. Ihe
impression was that either the confer
euce committee would recommend an m
crease in the submarine tonnage IoE
France with proportionate increases ioI
treat Britain, the United states anu
japan, or that the whole matter OF SUD-
marines might be left to the nations
themselves.
The latter course would be adopted,
however, only as last resort ana IN the
event that 10 agreement on ratio could
be obtained.
French Proposals Guarded.
The proposals of the French in regard
10 submarine tonnage have been closely
.larded :. 1t is said. however, that France
was expected to ask for 10000 tons OF
Submarines. or the same tonnage nXed
,or The United States and Great Brltaln
..tler the original American plan for the
Limitation, of armament
such a tonnage, it was predl4t ed.
yv.,,,.i be opposed by the other powers
Sse enbled. If France is to have
20 900 tons fixed for her submarine
-cunaEe, 1t was pointed out, Great
-Sitain Will undoubtedly demand
Considerable increase IN he" subma-
l.;ne ratio. Japan's submarine tonnage
as fixed by the original plan is $4,000
us, and. of course. Japan would ask
for an increase, it was said. If the
other powers did the same.
Italy Now Content.
:. spokesman for the Italian dele
2 atom today made it clear that Italy
would be content with the submarine
tonnage which she now has, in the
ncighborhood of 22,G00 tons; ltaly Is
opposed to building up a big navy.
But, on the other hand, Italy will
demand as large a tonnage as France.
on the theory that Italy must have
a navy equal to, that of any other
Mediterranean power.
Prior to the meeting today. Senator
Schanzer conferred with Secretary
hughes at the State Department, and
it is surmised that this matter of
naval ratio may have been discussed
at the meeting. The members of the
american delegation also held meet
ing at the State Department before the
committee meeting opened.
The Italians. while favoring a small
,,avy, are strongly opposed to the posi-
ton of the British that the submarine
should be abolished. it was said. They
take the position that the submarine is
legitimate weapon OF naval warfare
and that under rules laid down, it can
be operated just as humanely as other
weapons Of war.
Whether the submarine is an "at-
-rocious' weapon of warfare. as has
..een charged, will depend entirely
commander of the Submarine, it was
pointed out.
The Italians will favor the adoption
of stringent rules regarding the use
of submarines. In this they will the
support of the American delegation, it
- known.
The Italians also are in favor of
the adoption of strict rules relating
to the use of aircraft. pointing out
that the aircraft can operate just as
illegally as the submarine, and in
just as ''attrocious" d manner.
1t was learned that special sub
committee of the conference is today
at work drawing up rules relating to
HE use OF aircraft snd attempting
To make a distinction between the
military and commercial aircraft.
With regard to the rules to be ap-
piled to the use of submarines. it was
pointed out that strict rules should
he adopted providing that merchant
vessels should go unarmed, and that
raval auxiliary craft should bear some
special markings so as to disrire euish
them from mere merchant vessels.
Holiday Plans Hopeless.
In this way it would be possible
face and call upon a merchant ves-
sci to halt and submit to search,
just as surface navy vessels do, with
cut fear of being sunk by a shell
from a merchant vessel.
Plans for a Christmas holiday ap-
pear to have gone a-glimmering. The
conference probably will work right
ahead up to Christmas eve, it was
said. There may be a recess on Mon
day. There is great desire on the
part of all the conferees to have the
work of the conference proceed as
rapidly as possible. 4
After the meeting this morning the
following statement was issued:
"A joint meeting of the committee
~ limitation Of armament and of the
subcommittee on limitation of naval
armament was held this morning
December %. 1921, in the Pan-Ameri-
can building. The chairman explain
I'd 10 the committee what had taken
limitation, and a general discussion
followed. The meeting adjourned un-