Evening star., 1921-12-24
Answer Likely to Make Clear
Opposition to Abolition
Proposal.
FRENCH RECEIVE DATA
ON AUXILIARY TONNAGE
Figures Not to Be Revealed I'm
til Issue on Undersea Craft
Has Been Settled.
ny G, GOULD LINCOLN.


Americas reply to the British pro-
nosal that the submarine be aboitshed
was expected to be made at meet
ing of the committee on limitation Oh
armament of the Washington CONFER
ence, which gathered at IL O'CLOCK
this morning.
Americas reply. it was believed
n.ou,d he adverse to the British pro-
posaI, although it was expected that
the American delegation would make
clear to the British their interest IN
the very able presentation of the case
against the submarine by the latter
France. Italy and Japan have al
ready stated their opposition 10 tne
porposal for the abolition OF the sun
marine 1t is clear. therefore, thal
Great Britain's suggestion has been
defeated. at least for the time being.
Tonnage to- He Tackled.
II was expected that the American
delegation would point out the dIfh-
Guilty of dealing with the abolition OF
the submarine at this conference IN
which many of the nations having
submarines. or in a position TO OBTAIN
them, are not represented.
As soon as the British proposal re-
garding the abolition of submarines
has been disposed of. the question OF
the amount of auxiliary tonnage; III
Guiding submarines. when shail De
fxed for each of the five nations par
ticipating in the conference on iiml-
tation of armament. will be tackled.
il was said today. o,,
FRANCE. il was learned. has received
the data which it was expecting IRON
~ n w
the matter of the auxiliary tonnage.
II will be remembered that France
in accepting the ia ratio OF capltai
ships proposed by the United states
did so with reservations regarding the
amount of auxiliary tonnage.
Figures Not Made Public.
So far the figures which will 'be
presented by France with relation To
the auxiliary tonnage have not peeh
made public. They will be laid be-
fore the conference COMMITTEES, after
the question Of the abolition OF the
submarine has been concluded. Inc
French delegation pointed out ina.
!, was better to decide the question
a. m whether there should be any
snhm.rines at all. before passing 10
the question as to how many SUP,
marines the various nations shouiu
have. a.. ~. ,rount
.f Summarize tonnage that France
Ga.ms necessary, which has so FAR
come out of the conference, Is con-
tained in statement nlaoe py au
miraI de Bon, yesterday alternooh'
when he suggested that tne nun uhl ~,
submarine tonnage which Wouin De
required by a naval power was 9O,oo0
TONS This is the figure set by the
original American plan for the tnited
States and Great Britain win Japan
fixed at $4,000 tons of submarines. IL
remains to be seen whether the
French will ask such larCu SUB
marine tonnage.
Later Meeting in Doubt.
If the conference committee on
limitation of armaments meets this
afternoon, it may be that the discus
sion of the auxiliary tonnage allot-
ments will be taken up then. Prior to
the meeting this morning. it was said
by a spokesman for the American dele
cation that the committee would meet,
if there was any business pending be-
fore II. This is a matter which would
be settled at the morning meeting, it
was said.
So Christmas eve finds the confer
ence hard at work. There is every de-
sire on the part of the delegates to
speed up their work. it was said.
Whether the conference will decide to
take a holiday Monday is also yet to
he determined. In the opinion of some
of the delegates this would be done.
Favor Other Conferences.
The suggestion advanced by ltal-
ian delegates that it will be advisa-
BILE to hold future conferences to deal
with questions arising on naval
armament. has been advanced by
other nations also, it was learned to-
day. In fact. there seems to be a
general opinion that such meetings
will be necessary, even before the
end of the ten-year naval building
holiday. which is now proposed. 1t
is to be expected that the five powers
engaging in the present plan to limit
naval ornaments will keep their eyes
in the line of naval construction, and
conferences will be called.
velopment or evolution of the sug
ready on the way. In addition to
OF the matters relating to the far
east on the agenda of the present
conference that will call for future
consideration. and that will bring
the nations together again in confer
outside.