New-York tribune., 1921-12-31
Britain and America'To Be
Allowed 5 Craft Each,
Japan ; and France and
Italy Will Get z Apiece
Eight-Inch Guns
To Be Armament
Plan of 10000 Tonnage
for Auxiliaries Also Is
Adopted; French Delay

By Carter Field

BY Carter Field
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3O.-Final
agreement on the tonnage, number
and armament of airplane carriers
regarded by many experts as the real
capital ships of the future--was
reached by the five great navai
powers to-day. The ratio again is
5-5-3 for Britain, the United States
and Japan, and practically 2-2 for
France and Italy.
The maximum size Of 27.OOO tons
as proposed by the American delega-
tion was accepted, the maximum size
of gun to be carried was fixed at
eight inches, as also proposed by the
American delegation, and the num-
Der of carriers is five for Britain and
the United States, three for Japan
and two each for France and Italy.
Decision Quickly Reached
This sweeping decision on a sub
ject regarded by many experts as Of
far more Importance, so far as real
naval strength is concerned, than the
decision on capital ships, and about
which so much trouble was antici-
pated because in the early stages Of
the conference it was understood
that Japan would fight for an equal
ratio on this class, was made after q
very brief discussion.
1t came on the heels of an agree
ment by the delegates on the limiting
OF tonnage of ali other auxiliary ships.
except sirplane carriers. to 10000.
and the limiting of size of guns to be
carried by such ships to eight inches
While the French delegates agreed to
this they pointed out that the final de
cision must come from Paris, so that
actually this very important decision
stands approved by four powers. with
France to be heard from. Judging
from the tone of the French delegates
however, no difficulty on this score is
apprehended.
Tonnage for Five Powers
The tonnage for airplanc carriers, as
agreed upon with reservation or sug-
gestion that it would be necessary to
cable home for instructions on the part
of any delegation, is as follows:
United States Eve carriers. 135, 900 tons
Britain, FIVE carriers. ......... $4,000 tons
Japan. three carriers 1000 tons
France. two large three
small carriers ers............. 60. 00o tons
Italy. two carriers. .-....... so. 900 tons
On top of this is the restriction that
no carrier shall exceed $1,000 tons and
that no carrier shall carry guns in ex-
cess of eight inches.
On the question of the five powers
represented here, each agreeing not to
use submarines against the merchant
ships of the other four nations-this
awaits official sanction from three capi-
tals-Paris, Rome and Toxic. The ma
tions meantime have virtually ap-
proved the American proposal that an
effort be made, to amend international
law SO as to outlaw attacks by sub
marine on merchant ships.
Drafting Five-Power Treaty
AT the same time that the final de-
tails of the various agreements are
being worked out a draft is being
prepared Of five-power treaty, which
will be presented to the conference as
soon as all points are agreed upon.
The speeches of Albert Sarraut, head
of the French delegation, and Admiral
De Bon, of the French navy, showed
clearly TODAY that the criticism of the
French attitude at the conferences so
far has been very irritating to the
French delegation. M. Sarraut spoke
Of the admonition in some editorials
that they should pay their debts before
building warships and saiS France WAS
proud Of her debts after the manner of
wounded soldier being proud of his
scars.
Both Sarraut and De Bon denied
hctly that France or the French navy
approved the writings of Captain De
Fregate Castex, in the ''Revue Mari
time who vigorously defended subma-
rine attacks of the most unrestricted
! sort on passenger liners as we'll as or
dinary merchant ships. Lord Lee read
from some of the French captains writ
! ings and asked to be told If they rep
resented the views of the French naval
staff.
Action on Submarines Near
The conclusion reached on airpIane
carriers, the agreement, with only
France remaining to agree and her &C.
ceptance expected, of the limitation of
auxiliary ships to 10000 tons and the
size Of their guns to eight inches, and
the very definite shape--in the form of
alternate proposals--which the sub
marine situation has taken. hsva
brought the naval phases os the con-
ference very close to the end.
! No decisions on Important naval
questions remain to be made here. Ac-
tually only two remain TO be made
abroad, and one of those is SO thor
oughly discounted that there will be
surprise if France does not agree "a
the limit of 10000 tons and eight-inci,
guns for auxiliary craft The other is
j on submarines.
i 1t seems clear tonight that some
very definite progressive step on the
submarine will be taken. 1t may b
that France will not enter into ths
agreement with the other four power,
represented here not to attack thei,
merchant chips with submarines in III,
event of war. But every one expect,
that even if she refuses to enter ints
this agreement-and most Of he,
! friends. say that she will not refuse
~ xxal..