The New York herald., 1921-12-31

carrying eight inch guns with an ag-
gregate tonnage of $4,000; Japan.
three carriers totaling 81 900 tons, and
France and Italy $4,000 tons each,
with the understanding that the maxi
mum tonnage of each shall not exceed
$4,000 tons
The French request for authority
to inaugurate replacement campaign
as to 5attleships after holiday of six
instead of ten years as proposed in
the agreement on the part OF the
United States, Great Britain and Japan
was referred to a committee of naval
experts to work out the technical de-
tails. Similar reference was made of
she proposition to establish the proper
ratio for merchant ships that may be
converted into auxiliary craft.
Great Difncuity Not Expected.
The French delegates did not indi-
cate any opposition to any of these
projects except that relating to re-
placements, fact that encourages the
American delegates to believe there
would be no great difficulty in COM
pleting the naval program.
The naval experts of this country,
however. are not so optimistic as the
political and diplomatic delegates of
the United States and Great Britain
in this respect. They would not be
surprised If the French delegates re-
ceived instructions to insist on a re-
placement program that will result in
further complications.
In fact. the only anxiety that ex-
listed among American officials and
conference representatives was in
spired by uncertainties like that which
characterized the discussion OF the
submarine limitations issue until the
BRAND Cabinet announced its dissent
from the majority view.
The opinion persisted in political
and diplomatic circles that the coming
conference between Lloyd George and
BRAND at Cannes might result in a
clearing up Of the French situation.
Reports from Paris that leaders OF 80
French Government might propose
another conference to deal with the
submarine issue did not find favor
with American officials.
They also were inclined to regard
with skepticism another suggestion of
French origin that the BRAND Cabinet
would undertake to reconcile its sub
marine views with those Of Great
Britain and the United States IL four
Power treaty applying to the Atlantic
was acceptable to this Government.
Guarded as Pessimisttc.
Expressions of American officials on
tc t,,t hntt laI oxI
simistic. They have realized for a
long time that the French Government
regarded as of paramount Importance
the negotiation Of an agreement with
the United States guaranteeing protec-
tion to France against Germany, such
as is provided in the treaty negotiated
between France and Great Britain.
1t is quite apparent that despite the
refusal of the United States Senate to
approve of the Anglo Franco Ameri-
can treaty sent to that chamber by
former President Wilson, French
statesmen have not entirely abandoned
hope that it Will yet be accepted.
The differences of opinion between
British and French Government lead
ers over other issues of European i'm
portance has inspired spokesmen for
the French Government to assert that
British influence is really responsible
for the unfavorable view prevailing in
this country against any alliance like
that which 1t most greatly desires.
Since the adverse submarine decision
of the French Government the feeling
between representatives of the two ma
tions has reached an acute stage. and
.11 IfRto
have been conducted through the rep
reTentatives of the United States.
During discussion of the submarine
is~'ie - he general naval committee
representatives of both countries have
INDUCED in some pretty plain talk. and
it has probably required concil'atory
methods OF very subtle character to
prevent an open breach
An incident in the discussion of the
second Root proposal to-day en-
phasized this fact In expressing his
approval OF the second Root clause
Lord Lee aroused the resentment Of
the French delegates by reading an
article written by Capt. Castex of the
French navy, and published during
January. 1920. in the ReUieic Maritime.
O technical and official periodical Lord
Lee read several extracts from this
article. one of them was:
Thanks to the submarine. after
many centuries Of effort, thanks to
the ingenuity OF man. the instru-
ment. the system. the martingale Is
at hand which will overthrow for
good and all the navy OF the British
Empire.
The author of the article stated that
me submarine was merely an elabora-
ton OF the torpedo. French Inven-
ton which the Germans had appro-
priated to their own use. The French
naval captain closed his article as fol-
lows:
To sum up. one can see nothing In
the attitude OF the Germans which.
militarily speaking is not absolutely
correct. The failure to give notice
before torpedoing has raised storm
OF protest, but II is not so inadmls-
sible as II first appears"
Lord Lee suggested that "the way
open for the French delegation and
the French Government. as fervently
trust they WILL" is to disavow and re-
pudiate these things. He said the
French Government could do so by
voting for adoption of the resolutions
proposed by Mr. Root.
Admiral do Pom Immediately de-