The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-19
Premier Appealed to Direct by
Secretary Hughes.
Stand Pat Attitude of French
Threatened Farley.
ORIGINAL RATIO APPROVED
American Ambassador in Lon
don Did Quick Work.
Authorization Given for 5-5-3-
1.7O-1.6S Navy Plan.

London, Dec. 10 Cby the A. P.)-
France will accept the original naval
ratio laid down by Secretary Hughes
at the Washington conference, pre-
mier BRAND informed George Harvey,
the American ambassador. at their
meeting last night. The question of
submarines was not discussed.
Altho Premier Brands author
ization which has already been con-
veyed to the French delegation in
IVashtngtfou and the American state
department makes no mention of sub
marines, there is reason to believe
that the French proposals regarding
uudersea craft were discussed by M.
BRAND and Ambassador Harvey 1t
is hinted that the French may have
more to say on this subject.
Paris Confirms Report.
Paris. Dec. ia dispatch from
London to the semi-official Havas
agency today said that Premier BRAND
had informed Ambassador Harvey in
London that France had accepted Sec
cetary Hughes proposals concerning
capital ship tonnage as follows: United
States. five England, five; JAPAN
three; France, L70; Italy, l.68.
Washington, Dec. 19 (by the A P-).
A five power treaty. to limit naval
armament. apparently has been
brought much nearer by a new move
on the part of France. Fresh instruc-
tfons for the French delegation, said
unofficiaIly to include Brands accept
ance of the American proposal for
French naval strength, reached Wash
iugton today and impelled the French
delegates to ask for a 24-hour recess
i'm the naval negotiations while they
decoded the message and pOndered its
contents.
Meantime. despite unofficial adyices
from abroad saying there has been a
positive acceptance by the FIR lch gov
ernment. conference leaders are
sounding a note of warning against
over-optimism.
The French themselves manifest
great surprise IT the newspaper cable
dispatches. representing an accept
ance. They had presented a proposal
for twice as great a French capital
ship fleet as that provided under the
American figures, and they are not
ready to believe their home govern
ment has so quickly accepted the les
ser proposition unless there are i'm
portant conditions attached.
Premier Brands message reached
the French delegation just before the
hour set for today's session of the
naval committee of fifteen and a "a
hour postpOnement was announced.
Causes Sensation.
Unofficial advices from London and
Paris saying France had accepted the
naval ratio proposed for her by the
american government created some
thing of a sensation in arms confer
ence circles today because the develop
ment generally was interpreted as
marking one of the longest steps yet
taken toward a. naval reduction agree
ment.
Among those who have been directly
ratio negotiations there has been
confident belief all along that the
Paris government would accept, but
even the most optimistic had not eX-
pccted the agreement to come so soon.
The request of the French naval ex-
perts here for a capital ship tonnage
twice as great as that provided in the
American plan had brought the nego-
tiations to a rather critical stage and
a long and perhaps stubborn debate
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
deiegates early today. but The AsSo-
ciated Press dispatches announcing
an agreement were received with gen
eral expressions of qualification. The
result it was said would be to clear
the way at last for consideration of
haps for an early conclusion of the
whole conference. Some further dis
cussion may be necessary to bring
Italy views into accord with the five
power ratio proposal.
The Italians have shown tendency
to make every reasOna BILE concession
in the interest of harmony and 1t
would surprise the conference if any
serious hitch arose over the narrow
margin that has been left between the
French and Italian standings.
Farley on Horns of Dilemma.
Washington, Dec 19.-The arrna-
ment conference went into its sixth
week today on the horns of several
dilemmas which bid fair to wreck the
hopes of the leaders 10 accomplish the
principal aims of the meeting and be
out of Washington by New Years.
The French demand for naval build
ing program of $4,000 tons of post
Jutland battleships by 1871 is by far
the most serious bar to an early terIni-
nation Of the conference.
The warning conveyed to Frances
delegates here that persistence in the
demand can only wreck what already
mas been accomplished and result in
the iallUre of the parley, has been
met with the statement that the
French program has the united sup
port OF the French government and II
cannot he modified except on orders
from Paris.
Appealed To BRAND
Premier BRAND has been appeale.:
to. The premier, however. is in Lon
don this week engage in earnest CON
Nersatohs with Premier Lloyd George
over German reparations and some de-
lay IS anticipated
Secretary of State Hughes has lost
no time in getting to BRAND direct It