New-York tribune., 1921-12-26
Attitude of Former Held
To Be Symptom of Irri-
tation Over Britis h
Action on Battleships
SI'antung Is Chief
Concern of Nippon
Agreement A at Early Date
on Reasonable Ratio Is
Regarded as Assured
By Carter Field

WASHINGTON, Dec. 25.-Abso~
Lutte confidence that both Francs
and Japan will accept reasonable
ratio for their submarine tonnage
a ratio that will not disrupt the
armament limitation conference-is
felt here tonight, twenty-four hours
after the American compromise sub
marine proposal was submitted to the
naval committee by Secretary
Hughes. Under this proposal the
United States and Great Britain
would be allowed 10000 tons of sub
marines each; France, AZ, 900; Japan,
$1,000, and Italy, 10000. Japan held
out for $4,000 tons and France re-
jected the proposal until Paris could
be consulted. The Italian delega-
ton accepted on condition she and
France would have equal tonnage.
Great Britain accepted. The orig
lnal Hughes proposal was for 10000
tons for the United States and Great
Britain, with proportionate tonnage
to the other powers.
Minor Issue With Japan
As to Japan there is practically nc
discussion. With the big ship ratio
anG the four-power Pacific island
treaty about to be substituted for the
Anglo-Japanese Alliance, TIE Japanese
are far more interested in the Shan
tung negotiations than in what the
final decision on submarines may be.
The general feeling here is that, ir-
ritated beyond measure at England
France is having pleasant little party
twisting the British lions tail, and
that when this performance is COM
pleted she will come into camp on very
reasonable terms-repeating her per-
fornance on capital ships-except that
she will not make SO complete a con-
cession on the submarine issue as she
did on the big ships. She can afford to
build some submarines if she wants to,
The weakness of the French position
was limited at in speech of Premier
BRAND at the second public session O.
the conference. 1t was rear of France
being isolated. When it was first
voiced by NJ. BRAND it was heard with
surprise, especially on the part of the
Americans IN the hall. Now it is
understood, and the quick assurance
given that same day by Secretary
Hughes could not lie given SO truth
fully il it had to be done over again.
French Army Claim Conceded
France has won her big fight in the
present conference-Won it almost
without resistance in the early DAYS,
and won it beyond question. She will
be permitted TO keep an army OF any
size that she may think proper, from
time to time, without the objections
on the part of her late allies becoming
strong enough 10 bring about her iso-
lation.
But with that achievement sho has
gone pretty nearly as far as she car
go. Her representatives found that out
when they made their demand that
France be permitted TO build ten huge
new battleships She did not want
actually TO build them, but she wanted
permission in writing to attain the
eaainence Of the worlds third naval
power if she should choose to take ac-
vantage of it.
She found that she could not get
this permission, and that to fight for
It would lead quickly to the isolation
which BRAND feared III his speech.
Intensely irritated, and with their
pride stung to the quick, the French
have taken particular pleasure in kick
ing over the effort OF the British to
obtain international outlawing of the
submarine. They blame the British
for nearly everything that has hap
pened TO them adversely since they ar
rived here. They accuse the British of
having given to the world the fact thai
they wanted ten bettleships and Of
having out-maneuvered them in pub
licity since the first day Of the confer
ence.
British Arguments Effective
Now the French have discovered. in.
side the conference, that the British,
despite their failure to win approval
for their plan TO outlaw the submarine,
have made wonderful progress in dis
crediting the submarine as defensive
weapon The case for the abolition o,
the submarine is hopelesly lost so far
as the present session is concerned,
but the arguments made by the British.
and especially their figures showing
how futile the submarine was against
anything excep. unarmed. unarmored
merchant ships. have had marked
effect on the minds OF every delegate
from every power.
50 the nation asking at this par
ticular juneture for IN enormous in
crease in her submarine tonnage at a
conference, too, where the underlying
idea Is 10 reduce armament costs. not
increase thenhas not chosen the
time best suited to her purposes.
On the big batteship issue France
found herself opposed By every one OF
the other four naval powers-by he.
neighbor, Italy most vigorously OF all.
She has now found herself in the sans
post Oh in her demand for an increase
IN submarine tonnage. Not only that.
but her delegates here sense the feel.
ing CT the other nations not members
Of the armament limitation conference.
here have been some very frank ex-
presSions about the French attitude on
naval armament limitation from soma
Of the delegates who are accredited
only to the Pacific and Far Eastara