The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-20
Formally Ask for Plenary Ses
sion of Arms Conference.
Declare Acceptance Of 5-5-s
Plan Only Conditional.
FRENCH MODIFY DEMAND
Declare France Must Have Its
Navy MOdernized.
Great Britain Stands All Alone
in Adjustment Plea.

Washington. Dec. -V.-1ne BRUSH
delegation to the arms conference
has formally requested of Chairman
Hughes the calling of plenary ses-
sion for the discussion of the subma
rine question. it was officially an
nounced today
Great Britain wants to make her
fight for the abolition of the subma-
r.ne in public it was stated. An Off
cial spokesman for the British dele
CATION, in making the announcement,
said 1t was hoped to hold an open
session on ednesday or Thursday.
Say 5-5-S Plan Conditional.
British spokesmen said today they
-.5idered the question or submarines
so important that the whole naval
program is contingent upon arriving
at an agreement concerning their
numbers and future use.
British quarters took pains to point
out that the agreement on the. sos
ratio between Great Britain, the
UnI.> 1 States and Japan was condi-
tional upou "a suitable agreement
beng worked out for France and
Italy If such an agreement is not
worked out with regard to French
and italian ratio, then the whole pro-
am is endangered, according to
British views.
FIarc-Up Is on Wanc.
The fIare-up occasioned by Frances
demand for ten new capital ships be-
gan to die down today.
Realizing their position on the capi-
tai ship issue is untenable and impos-
sib-e of recognition by the other pow
crs the French are willing to with
draw from it on the condition that
they are adequately taken care of in
the matter of auxiliary ships-subma-
rues. light cruisers, airplane carriers,
exc. but principally in the matter of
submarines.
This is the burden of the instruc-
tions which have been received from
Premier BRAND, which already have
been communicated to Secretary
Hughes and which, according to au-
tnoritative sources will be generally
communicated to the conference as a
Who-e by NJ. Sarraut today.
Want Modern Navy.
The French want their navy IN od-
ernized" and they will conduct a
strenuous campaign for it behind the
great bronze doors of the Pan-Ameri-
can building. - They have practically
no postwar capital ships, and they
viii insist the permission be given
them to bring their navy up to date.
II was freely predicted in confer
ence circles today that in view of de-
Velopments in the last forty-eight
hours. France will accept a capital
ship ratio of around / Z or .. as COM
pared with 5-5-3 between Great
Britain. Japan and the United States.
and will thereafter wage unceasing
warfare for a big submarine allotment
Great Britain Stands Alone.
BY, a strange twist of circumstances
the submarine and capital ship issues
have been so intertwined that it will
be difficult if not impossible for them
10 oil 7nv-r ,fel4r &c
desired by the chief powers.
By the strange twist, France will
have the support of the other great
powers when the submarine issue Is
taken up. aUI Great Britain will be
found standing alone with her back
to the wall, in much the same posi-
tion France is in with regard to the
big ships.
The chief result of the French cap
ital ship flare-up has been to intensity
the bitter feeling between the French
and British delegation here and to in
tensify tn opposition which will
greet Great Britain's proposal for the
abolition of the submarine. French
expert opinion is now in favor of a
great force of submarines to offset
Britain's prepOnderant sea strength
as never before.
The combined opposition of Ameri-
can, French, Italian and Japanese ma
val opinion to the British position
would seem to Indicate that the con-
ference will make short work of it
once it gets down to actual considera-
tiOn.
Set Exact Ratios Today.
Meanwhile, negotiations were open-
ed today to set the exact capital ship
ratios of France and Italy. Italy's ex-
lstng strength is figured at 1.6S and
Frances at 10. The insistence of
Secretary Hughes that the existing
strength is the basis iof fixing ratios
indicates that the ultimate ratios of
the two chief Mediterranean powers
viii not be materially different from
those figures. Italy will be satisfied
with anything that is given France
and her spokesmen' have indicated
That they win not hoggle over frac-
uonal percentages.
While the committee irons out the
wrinkles over fatios, the Far East
matters are nearly at a standstill
China and Japan are pushing slowly
ahead in the direction of an agreement
concerning Shantung, but elsewhere
the conference hangs fire.