Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-18

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A three hour session of the SUBJ,
committee was largely taken up by
Albert Sarraut, head of the French
delegation, in presenting views of
French naval experts now here.
Secretary Hughes. made a brief
reply tending to stimulate good feel
The official communique, however.
would admit nothing beyond the facts
that the committee met, talked, adj
journed and would meet again.
Settle East Quarrel
Settlement of the Shantung problem
apparently depends on satisfactory ar
rangement of a few details involved in
japanese return of the Tsing Tao
Tsinan Flu railroad in the Kiao Chow,
lease hold. Further instructions
ese delegates and although their exact
nature was not disclosed there was
evidenced among both Japanese and
Chinese feeling that final agree
ment was only a question of hours.
AS to the French proposals for a
new fleet of 10 $4,000 ton capital
ships, which stunned conference circles
when they first become known FRI
day, it was learned that they were
framed here by direction of Admiral
Debon, chief French naval expert, un-
der his authority from the delegation
to present the views of the French
naval general staff Premier BRAND
and Former Premier Viviani. both had
left before the proposals were framed.
The Paris government has been in
formed by cable of the situation.
Italy Accepts Ratio
1t was evident Saturday night tha.
the 10000 ton capital ship Iimita-
tion for France was proposed by the
American delegation originally. Italy's
spokesman in the subcommittee Sena-
tor Schanzer. replied that Italy ac-
cepted the American point of view as
to tonnage and would be satisfied with
175,000 tons if France accepted that
figure.
The position of the Italian delega-
tion as it is understood to have been
developed, is that Italy had two prin
ciples to maintain in the naval ratio
that the Italian navy should
be on an equality with that of any
other power in the Mediterranean and
that Italian ratio should be as low as
possible for Italy's purely defensive
purposes. Italy's agreement to the
American 10000 ton ratio, condi-
only on acceptance of that
ratio by France, followed
knowledge that the French 10 ship
building plan. which up to Saturday
had seemed stumbling block, was
merely the suggestion Of the French
naval staff here as to what it deemed
desirable for France, put a new face
on the deliberations. The action of
the French experts in outlining their
views was not only, it is understood,
by the French delegation
as means to bring about q full dis
cussion of the general problem of naval
but it was also supported
by conference precedent.
The only written presentation of
Japan's first claim to Il naval ratio of
20 per cent as compared to the Amer
can fleet, so far rs known, was made
by japanese experts in the original
committee of experts abandoned later
Use Japanese Idea
Another similarity is that the Jap
anese 10 per cent ratio proposal con-
needs to fix limitation as |
loes the French naval expert 10 ship |
Japan later accepted fully the |
American view that existing naval |
strength was the only practical basis |
If approach to limitation agreement. |
The "5-5-3" ratio plan represents that |
system of calculation.
The American, 175.O00 ton plan for |
France and presumably Italy. also un-
represents the same system |
# existing strength calculation. There |
$ not available. however, detailed !
analysis for ship scrapping in the |
French and Italian cases since the tom !
lage allowance represents more than
either power now has. Presumably it |
loes contemplate the scrapping of all |
of both powers as of no
military value.
U. S. Plan Compromise
The French naval experts have still |!
mother conference precedent, although |
hey may not know it, for presenting |
heir ten ship estimate Of Frances |
naval needs on basis Of national se-
'urity. When the general board Of the
American navy was first directed to |
ormulate naval ratio plan as be-
ween the three leading naval pow
'rs, it is understood, a different prop-
CONTINUED ON Pxga Iwo..