The New York herald., 1921-12-17

ment has astounded the delegates OF
other countries. The chief reason is
that the demand OF France reveals a
complete reversal of opinion regarding
sea ornaments during the last three
weeks.
AT the second plenary session of the
conference Premier BRAND, in refer
ring to the plan proposed by Secretary
Hughes for limitation of sea arma-
ments, said:
"The question with which we have
first to deal here is or course one
that mainly concerns the great naval
Powers, but / may say for my part
that I have listened with great joy
to the very large, broad and general
adhesion given in principle by the
Governments of Great Britain and
Japan"
NJ Brands reference to princi les
was interpreted at the time to indicate
acceptance by France of paragraph A
of the four principles, which was as
follows: THE elimination OF all capital
shipbulding programmes either actual
<or projected" as also paragraph b,
? which read: THAT regard should be
had to the existing naval strength of
the comforting Powers"
The unexpected demand by France
therefore was productive of a confu-
sion of ideas as to the probable cause
for the reversal on the position as
surned by NJ. BRAND, presumably since
his return to Paris.
Dalfour Gets Into Action.
The French announcement was of
sufficient Importance to bring Mr.. Bal
four into action this afternoon, when
he made a statement of the British
position regarding the general aspects
of the naval programme. He made no
direct reference to the French request
except to say that the whole naval
plan depended on 1t, but i Is quite
evident that he and his British col
leagues, as well as the American, Japa-
nese and Italian delegates. viewed the
French proposal as potentially serious
to all conference undertakings If per-
sisted in.
Mr.. Balfour said the British position
on the submarine issue would be made
entirely clear by Lord Lee at the next
plenary session of the conference. He
would not discuss it's probable relation
TO the new French naval proposal
Ho characterized the adoption OF
the capital ship agreement as "a new
thing in the annals OF international
armaments and an unexampled lana-
mark in history"
II have no doubt said Mr.. Balfour,
that the great undertaking Initiated
by the United States is going to bene-
fit all countries concerned and, OF
course. will benefit most those coun-
tries which maintain the largest fleets.
do not believe that the defensive
powers of Great Britain will be in
iured by the arrangement which has
been completed. ] am sure the bur-
dens upon the people will be greatly
diminished, and l believe exactly the
same proposition is true in regard to
the United States and Japan.
safety Minus Competition.
This arrangement has the merit of
leaving all these three countries safe
from attack by preventing cutthroat
competition between them as regards
cost of arrnarnents and of doing any
thing which could lead to embitter-
ment or regret IL one considers the
safety, the security and honor of the
country. Broadly speaking, the cost
Of naval armaments is rapidly mount
ing in all these countries, even the
richest of them. Quite apart from
moral humanitarian consideration.
looking at the matter purely from the
point of view of finance, national and
International. it seems to me that the
advantages to mankind which the
President of the United States and
his Government have initiated are very
difficult to estimate.
"When the President of the United
81 'as initiated on the first day of the
&C arence the great movement to
wA.1h l have alluded he was aware
that we who listened to him were not
aware that he was opening new
chapter in the history of man and
ornaments The effect upon Great
Britain is the same upon Japan and
the United States. 1t will diminish
public burdens; it will give relief in
the time of particular difficulties; it
viii be n lesson in humanitarian to
mankind"
Groping for probable reasons lying
back of the request made by the
French delegates for maximum con-
gideration in naval allotments, officials
and delegates in a position to speak
with authority manifested a desire to
avoid giving offense to their French
associates. Unofficial opinions were
both varied and various.
It appeared to be the dominant inn
preston among officials and delegates
that the French request would be ap-
preciably modified by an official state
ment tomorrow If authority is given
to France and Italy to maintain ade-
ouatc auxiliary and submarine units
beyond the point favored by Great
Britain. which has set its face against
tho employment Of undersea boats In
warfare.
There is no doubt that the French
request has caused feeling between
British delegates and officials, as the
latter naturally construe il as en-
phasizing hostility on the part OF the
French toward British ambitions with
respect TO naval and economic under
tukings.
The French observed complete ST.
lence regarding the disturbing sug-
Gestion made by them to the subcom-