The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1921-12-22
FRANCE To PRESENT
HER ESTIMATES FOR
AUXILIARY VESSELS
Is Expected to Ask for Subma-
rine and Cruiser Strength
Larger than Allotted.
SHANTUNG TANGLE
NEARER AGREEMENT
Japs Do Not Consider Tempo
rary Halt in Formal Ex-
changes Serious Deadlock.
tBv The Associated Press1

WASHINGTON, Dec. 21.-The form
al negotiations of the arms conference
We're at a standstill today but groups
Of delegates continued personal consul
tation, which appeared to strengthen
the general confidence in an early So
luton of all the points remaining at
issue.
With definite capital ship ratios
agreed upon by all five of the principal
powers, there was revealed a feeling
that limitation of auxiliary craft was
largely minor question of detail, in
the settlement of which the individual
desires of the various nations could be
generally accepted. The view was ex-
pressed that the real bu mess of the
conference had been accomplished in
the limitation of first line ships, since
it is that class of war vessels which
constitutes the major element of ma
val aggression and which at the same
time entails the great bulk of public
expenditure.
France is TO present her estimates
for auxiliary vessels at tomorrow's
meeting of the naval committee, and
although she is expected to ask for
a submarine and cruiser strength out
Of proportion to the capital ship ratio
fixed for her. no one appears to re-
gard the prospect of adjusting her
claims as a difticull one It Isl rot
understeood "a oe regarded as eEseIis
tiai by conference leaders that the cap
ital ship ratio be applied rigidly down
the line through the various classes of
smaHe vessels.
In the Shantung negotiations, too,
the days informal conferences de-
veloped new indications Of a trend to-
ward agreement. The Japanese, who
are waiting fer further instructions
from Toxic regarding the terms of
withdrawal from the Tsing-tao- -Tsin-
anfu railroad, expressed the opinion
that the temporary halt in formal ex-
changes with the Chinese did not con-
stitute a serious deadlock.
Similar expressions came from other
delegatiens, although the Chinese
seemed inclined to fear that the dis
cussions had encountered a serious OBJ !
stacle.
In the interim between formal meet
ings of the various divisions OF the
the delegates of all the
powers continued an animated discus
sion among themselves regarding the
question of interpreting the new four
power Pacific treaty. The difference
In view revealed yesterday between
President Harding and members of the
American delegation, relating to the
APPLICATION of the treaty to the prin-
cipal islands of the japanese empire.
the chief topic of personal
among many of the for
eign plenipotentiaries who privately
expressed themselves as unable to un-
how such a situation had de-
veloped.
No further explanation was forth
coming from the White House or from
members of the American group in the
but it was declared in
state department circles that there ex-
listed no question of the attitude Of
the American government. The in
depreciation of the American delega-
tioon. it was said. holding the treaty
dooes apply to the major japanese is
lands. stood as the official Anerf-
can view,