The New York herald., 1921-12-27

feTeeS.
Approaching the depth o. French
resentment toward Great Britain dele
gates of the other European countries
would not be surprised If the stubborn
refusal of the French to modify their
submarine claims does not finally close
the door of the conference on the sub
ject and defer settlement OF II to some
future. time, when relations between
Great Britain and France are more
amicable than at present.
Capital Ship Ratio stands.
The majority of the delegates appear
10 be in agreement in the opinion that
the ratio OF capital ships assentedN to
by the United States, Great Britain
and Japan will stand and be approved
by the conference whether there is
COMPROMISE over submarines and aux
iiiary craft or the distribution OF the
latter types of fighting ships must be
set aside for the present owing to the
attitude of the French.
The position of the British delegates
In the matter of submarines is recog-
nized as being subject to revision. The
Same thing can be said of the Japa-
nese. although the two countries are
further apart on 1his matter than they
have been so far in conference proceed
ings. With the decision Of Italy con-
tingent on the French situation, little
doubt is expressed by the delegates
from all of the other countries that an
agreement could be speedily reached
IL the French adopt a more concilia-
tory attitude on the subject.
The strength of the British position
is generally recognized. The fact is
that the frank appeal made by Mr..
Balfour and Lord Lee for total ex-
termination of the submarine as a
weapon bf defense apparently has
aroused greater support of popular
character than any other incident con-
nected with the conference. The MEM
bers of all delegations admit this.
They say there Is a greater volume
urging abolition of the submarine than
comes to them bearing on any other
phase of conference undertakings.
A great many Of these letters ex-
press surprise that the delegates Of
the United States have not recognized
the force of the British position and
placed itself squarely in line with the
British policy. 1t is known that Presi-
dent Harding himself regards the Brit
ish proposal with pronounced favor
But up to date he has not attempted
TO exert any direct influence on the
delegates appointed by him and who
agreed to the figures proposed in the
original formula.
ship Figures Revised Once.
Of officials of this Government whether
Mr.. Hughes and his associates are
justified in standing out for the figures
proposed by the former on the open
ing day of the conference, but after
ward revised. The whole naval struc-
ture was built around the capital ship
program. The ratio OF auxiliary craft.
including submarines, was prepared by
The naval experts of this Government
10 fit into the readjustment Of capital
ship units.
There is no information at hand to
Justify the statement whether Mr..
Hughes and his fellow delegates paid
as much attention to the proposed
the more pretentious fighting craft
beyond the fact that they were con-
vinced it represented the relative per-.
centages that should prevail If the
capital ship plan was adopted.
1t is assumed by officials of this
Government that the auxiliary feature
Of the naval program represented the
professional naval idea of proper
proportion. 1t has since developed,
however, that popular opinion is not
in sympathy with the percentages, but
Is rather on the side of the British
appeal for the determination of the
submarine as an agent of defense.
Whether the surprising popular
support given to the British position
has made any impression or COM
PEELED any change i'll the plans of the
American delegates has not yet de-
veloped. The entire influence of the
american delegates to date has been
directed to inducing the French Gov
eminent to recede from the arbitrary
position assumed by it in the con-
tToyersy.
May Cut Submarines Further.
y is thought likely however. il any
agreement can be reached with the
French Government, the United States
will consider the advisability of as
senting to further reductions of sub
r7arire tonnage than that proposed by
=. This is stage that cannot be
reached until the French Government
displays a more conciliatory attitude
than has prevailed for the last week.
Consent of the French TO entertain
compromise proposal will undoubt-
edly influence the Japanese delegates
20 recede from their demand for an
excess of the $4,000 tons of subma-
rines allowed under the pending
schedule.
Representatives. of the Mikado's
Government have displayed the same
amiable spirit in the submarine issue
as they did over capital ships. the four
Power Pacific agreement and the un-
derstandings regarding Pacific fortifi-
cations and mandates.
Spokesman for the Japanese Gov
errment naturally assert the claims
made by the delegates of the country
for larger allotment OF submarines
than is proposed by the American
Government reflects a genuine convic-
ton that its figures in this respect
are reasonable. At the same time they
concede the probability of the modifi-
t4Nx. ~ rot. az -.