Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-27

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maximum concession in the
/, ment from later conference, to be at
tended by larger number of nations.
for another examination of the whole
submarine problem. and for a future
meeting of the great powers to discuss
the general possibilities of further arm
ament limitations. There were indica-
tions that the plan for a world subma-
| rine conference would be put into con-
crete form very quickly The proposed
new conference of the powers on the
general subject of armaments probably
would be held in 1923 or 1929, and pro-
vision for it would be made in the
treaty that is to embody the decisions
| of the present meeting.
France Is Not Content
Postponement of the naval commit
! tee meeting from Tuesday to Wednes-
4 dag is understood Ito hare resulted
from q request from the French dele
gates. who have not vet heard the for
, NAL verdict of their home government
on the American plan to fix American
and British submarine strength at co.
| COO tons and to maintain status quo
arrangement for France, Italy and
Japan. The impression among the mem
bers of the French delegation was that
the plan would be wholly unsatisfactory
| to Paris. A submarine tonnage OF
10000 has been suggested for France
| by her naval experts and under the
American proposal she would have only
about $1,000 tons.
The japanese maintained silence as
to their future course in the negotia-
tons. but there was no evidence that
| they intended to recede from their flat
refusal to accept the American COM
promise. The Japanese delegates have
told the conference they consider 54,
900 tons of submersihles necessary to
their national security in place of the
81 600 allotted to them in the compro-
mise arrangement. In some quarters,
however. it is hoped that further ad-
vices from Toxic may soften their po-
sition.
For General Holiday
Should the American plan fail TO
bring the powers together, it is sug
gested by some of those connected with
the conference that consideration may
building holiday in submarines. under an
agreement that all five of the powers
would leave their submersible strength
distributed as at present in the va
rious sea areas. Under this suggeS-
ton. which has so far received no for
NAL Endorsement from any of the dele
cations, the United States, Great Brit
ain. Japan. Italy and France all would
undertake to maintain exactly the tom
mage of submarines they now have sta
toned in the respective regions of the
Atlantic. the Pacific, the Mediterranean
and the Adriatic. =.
The proposal to write into the naval
limitstion treaty an agreement for re-
assembling the conference of the pow
ers, probably seven years hence, has
begun to take more definite form over
the Christmas recess. An informal
exchange of views among the American.
British and French delegates has de-
veloped feeling that by that time it
may be possible to work out an ex-
tension of the naval holiday in the light
of a seven-year test Of the agreement
which made it possible.
Details to Work Out
f In that event. it has been said. there
will DE details to work out of the pro-
gram that is to replace the 1O-year
fleet status with actual application of
the ''five-five-three" capital ship ratio.
1t also appeared more probable that
some definite step toward world con-
ference ON submarines probably to be
held within the next day or two. Ex-
actly what form it will take is in doubt.
pending final action here on submarines
and it is certain that the American
delegation plans to exhaust every ef-
fort to bring about an agreement as TO
submarine tonnage which will result in
actual reduction Of tonnage and delim-
itation of future submarine building
program before passing from that sub
I ject TO other auxiliary craft proper
tions.
I The initial suggestion for world
conference came from the British dele
CATION in line with it's fruitless effort
to set the Washington conference to
agree to ahoGshment of underwater
craft entirely. The American delega
tion expressed much sympathy with
the British view, but was not ready
to consider such step. except in con-
junction with all nations of the world.
An international Code
II is pointed out that in the event
of the calling of special world sub
marine conference, such matters as use
of poison gas, aircraft bombing and any
other new agencies Of war could be
talked over with q view to setting up I
an international code to govern their !
employment; The Washington confer I
tcsnentsd - Rage Ten, n