The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1921-12-19
Conference At Washing
ton Pleased With Pros
pect of Early Agree
ment On All Vital
Points-Italy Remains
To Be Heard From, But
No Contention Ex-
pected

No Contention Ex-
pected
London, Dec. 19.-(By the Associat
ed Press. France will accept the
original naval ratio laid down by Sec
retary Hughes at the Washington con-
ference, Premier BRAND informed
George Harvey, the American ambas-
sador at their meeting last night He
authorized the ambassador to notify
the American government to that eff
feet
Although Premier Brands authori-
zation which has already been con-
veyed to the French delegation in
Washington and the American state
department. makes no mention of sub
marines, there is reason to believe
that the French proposals regarding
undersea craft were disclosed by NJ
BRAND and Ambassador Harvey 1t
is limited that the French may have
more to say on this subject
Ratio 10 Fixed
Paris, Dec. ia telegram to the
semi-official HaVas agency today said
Premier BRAND had informed Ambas-
sador Harvey in London that France
accepted Secretary Hughes propos-
ais concerning capital ship tonnage
as follows:
United States, 5; England 5; ia
pan, 3; France, ITO; Italy, 1853.
Acceptance Interpreted
Paris, Dec. 19.-The Interpretation
put on M. Brands interview with Am
bassador Harvey in official circles
here this forenoon was that Frances
acceptance Of the American point of
view as to naval tonnage was an ac-
ceptance lin principle" only so far
Z as capital ships were concerned, and
that it did not alter the French in.
sistence upon adequate allowance of
submarines and cruisers.
1t was also declared that SO far as
the Official advices received here
showed, no definite ratio had yet been
accepted by France
Conference Pleased
Washington, Dec. 19.-(By the As
sociated Press )-Unofficia advices
from London and Paris, saying
France had accepted the naval ratio
proposed for her by the American
government created something of a
sensation in arms conference circles
today because the development gen.
orally was interpreted as marking one
of the longest steps yet taken toward
naval reduction agreement
Among those who have been direct
ly concerned in the latest phase of
the ratio negotiations there has been
confident belief all along that the
Paris government would accept but
even the most optimistic had not ex-
pected the agreement to come so soon.
The request of the French naval ex-
perts here for capital ship tonnage
twice as great as that provided in
the American plan had brought the
negotiations to rather critical stage
and long and perhaps stubborn de-
bate had been forecast generally.
Details of the settlement effected in
London between Premier BRAND and
Ambassador Harvey had not been
communicated officially to the arms
delegates early today, but the Asso-
ciaited Press dispatches announcing
an agreement were received with gen.
eral expressions of qualification. The
8 iCoult, II was bdlut WOuIu Ec " CledT
the way at least for consideration Of
details OF the naval program and per
/. haps for an early conclusion of the
whole conference.
Some further discussion may be
necessary to bring Italy's views into
accord with the five power ratio pro-
posal, but no prolonged negotiations
on that point are expected. The COM
plete American proposal for expan-
sion Of the three-cornered agreement
into five power treaty is understood
to provide for ratio of IT for
France and L67 for Italy as compar-
ed to the 5-5-S already agreed on for
/, the United States, Great Britain and
Japan respectively.
The Italian delegation has insisted
heretofore that their government
should have as large figure as
France.
Throughout the discussions, how
ever, the Italians have shown q ten
dency to make every reasonable con-
cession in the interest of harmony
\ and 1t would surprise the conference
4 II any serious hitch arose over the
\ narrow margin that has been left be-
tween the French and Italian stand
& ings.
French DeIsuates In Dark
Washington, Dec. 1s.-The French
delegation, through M Jusserand ex
planned to Mr.. Hughes by telephone
that M. Saurraut had cabled to Pre-
mier BRAND on Saturday for further
instructions and that a dispatch o.
some length had Just been received
from the premier which would takt
some time to decode. Accordingly {
delay of twenty-fcur hours was re
Quested
M Garpaut told newspaper mel
Eat - dia hot yat know the nstur'