The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1921-12-27
Delegates All Favor This
Program But Are Loathe
To Propose 1t
is BLOCKED.
and japanese
Representatives Object
To Compromise Plan
[ny Associated Prebsl

WASHINGTON. Dec. 27--SuGs
eestlons that the whole submarine
problem be left to a future world
conference gained Increasing
prominence today while the dele
gates to tAa Washington confer
ence waitcI for formal replies
from France and Japan to tho
American compromise proposal for
submarine limitation.
No delegation was prepared to
openly advocate postponement ofE
the problem. and outwardly, all
delegation spokesmen hold to tho
customary diplomatic attitude OF
optimism. Attn nough some con-
ceded that the French and Japan
ese opposition to the compromise
proposal constituted dlscouraS
ing barrier to the progress Of tao
submarine negotiations.
Pending action by the French
cabinet at It's meeting today the
Frnch delegaes here remained con
fident that their refusal to accept
1.-The new American figures would /
be upheld by their government!
THe Japanese, too, expected Toxic &
to insttst that the American plan
was unacceptable.
There was no meeting today Of
the conference naval commit tttee
and activities Of the conference
were not confined to relations
among various groups OF ideleEat
10 the efforts OF the ngYR
to clarity the d isCuSsfo ions sbg
| out a more definite techntcal
of comparison to guide III
! potentiaries In future me
Tho general Impression
| question Of land aruiamen
! not again como before the COME
once for detailed consideration
strengthened by the departure Of
the italian military stan and by
announcement that the British
! military experts also would leave
on the last day Of the oInnth. Tde
French land armament advisors n n
also were gradually Withdrawing
Additional weight has been
given the informal suggestion Tor
a future submarine conference by
the argument advanced In some
quarters, that in any real solution +
Of the question OF the underwater
warfare the smaller nations must
be consulted. 1t semed not unlike-
IL tod&y that some concrete plan
for a later international meeting
on the subject might be brought
forward within few days.
Naval experts of the special
committee suggested by Arthur
Balfour to determine q standard
practice for the Washington COM
ference In calculating naval ton
naeo gave preliminary considers
tion their subject today with the
possibility that different rules Of
displacement measurement tor sufs
face craft and submarines might
bo proposed.
An instance Of possible misuI=
dcrstandlngs arose during the hrst
consideration by tho naval. COM
m;ttce O: the submarine problem
Tho British delegation places
French existing submarine ton
nare at $500 tons while the
American group placed It at more
than $4,000 tons. 1t was learpeo
today t1at the American calcula7
ton was based on figures tromrthe
French but believed by the Amer
leans 10 be in terms of surface dis
placement. The whole proportion
of submarine tonnage was upset ~
that item as all navles were scalcllg Y
lated at surface displacement
1t seemed possible today that
ultimately the conference Would
decide TO calculate submarines -
terms OF submerged displacement
and thus avoid all question o. IN g b 9
ships military load.
American practice. in calcuiaHne
normal displacement OF surface a
vessels Aas been followed thus
bv tho conference. It Is based on
the dead weight of the ship derty
ed from her design and the actual e
weighing OF material during con-
struction. plus the fuH weient 9!
her ammunition and two eatraa q.
the weight OF her fuel and other
consumable stores. British pEae7 Il
tlce adds fixed weight allowance
to the dead weight OF q ship 80
obtain hor normal displacement
Other nsvies do the same thing
but each has different figure. qsiS
to normal military load allowances. (
The Importance of fixing an M I
ternationai naval tonnage rule toI
the conference to avoid future dts
putes is sharply indicated TO. naYal
experts through such cases as the
of the dreadnauSht. first Of ~
aIl-big-gun hattleships to be built
and now scheduled to be scrapped
The dreadnaught Is Glrrted on
British naval lists as Of about
1900 tons dIspIa cement. Actual
she was an Overweight shfp
icGutinufd treEa p1gs CAL