New-York tribune., 1921-12-27
World Parley in 1924 on
Submarines Gains FuvOr
Gathering in 1923 to Discuss
Further Reduction Also May
Be Included iu 4ereen,enf

WASHINGTON. Dec. 26 (By The As
sociated Press). = Plans for a world
conference on submarines in 1924. with
a large number of nations represented.
and for new gathering OF the prin-
cipal powers in 1928 or 1929 to dis
cuss possibilities OF further armament
limitation were taking more definite
shape here tonight. II was suggested
chat provision for the 1928 meeting
would be made in the agreement
reached by the present conference.
Should the American plan of arms
Limitation fail to bring the powers to-
gether now, it is suggested by some
of those connected with the conference
that consideration may be given to q
proposal for general building holi-
day in submarines, under an agree
aent that all five of the powers would
leave their submersible strength as at
present in the various sea areas.
Under this suggestion, which has SO
far received no formal Endorsement
from any of the delegations, the United
States, Great Britain, Japan, Italy end
France all would undertake to main
tain exactly the tonnage Of submarines
they now have stationed in the respec-
tive regions of the Atlantic, the Pa
citic, the Mediterranean and the
Adriatic.
big Three" for 1928 Meeting
The proposal 30 write into the naval
limitation treaty an agreement for re-
assembling the conference of the
powers, probably seven years hence,
mas begun to take more definite form
over the Christmas recess. An infor-
NAL exchange of views among the
American, British and French dele
gates has developed a feeling that by
that time it may be possible to work
out an extension of the naval holiday
III the light of q seven-year test of
the agreement which made it possible
In any event, il has been said, there
VIII be details to work out of the pro-
gram that is to replace the ten year
fieet status with actual application Of
the 5-5-3 capital ship ratio.
1t also appeared more probable to-
night that some definite step toward a
world conference on submarines. prob
aoly to be held within three yea,s after
the Washington conference ends its
labors, would be taken within the next
day or two. Exactly what form it will
take IS in doubt pending final action
here oD submarines, and it is certain
that the American delegation plans to
exhaust every effort to bring about an
agreement as to submarine tonnage
which will result in actual reduction of
tonnage and delimitation of future
submarine building programs before
passing from that subject to other
auxiliary craft proportions
The initial SuPpeSt tiOn for a rvorfI
submarine conference came from the
British delegation, in line with it's
fruitless effort to get the Washington
conference to agree to aboishment of
underwater craft entirely. The Amer
lean delegation expressed much sym-
pathy with the British view, but was
not ready to consider such step, ex-
cept in conjunction with all nations OF
the world
Was on Proposed Program
1t Is pointed out that in the event OF
the calling of special world subma-
rine conference, such matters as use
or poison gas, aircraft bombing and
any other new agencies of war could
be talked over with view TO setting
up an international code to govern
their employment The Washington
conference is regarded as too limited
III scope TO zeal with such questions
II further appears possible that the
difficult question of land armaments
could be put forward to the supple
mental wcrld assembly on armaments.
as three years may show changed CON
ditions IN Europe which will then ad
NIT of an agreement to curb army es-
tablishments as we'll as navies.
The project to call another session
OF the five-power naval conference
seven years after the ten-year holiday
begins first was suggested, it isannder-
stood, by the French delegation. At
tirst the date suggested was 1881, when
the decade stop in building ends.
Since matters to be discussed then.
however, would have to do very largely
with replacement building, Lord Lee
OF the British group, and Secretary
Hughes, for the American view, are
said to have expressed the opinion that
the question should be taken up three
years before the holiday expires, and
as it now stands the meeting would be
some time in 192S-'29
Britain to Maintain Lead ;
1t should be recalled that while the
h-o-@ capital ship ratio has been ac-