Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-12-29
RANCE, FEARING
ENGLAND, WANT
A STRONG FLEET
Efforts to Limit the Naval
Strength of Subs and
Auxiliary WarShipS Come
to an Abrupt End.
tBy The Associated Press. }

soCiated Press. Efforts to limit
the naval strength of the powers in
submarines and auxiliary warships
came to an abrupt end today after
they had drawn the French and
British arms conference delegates
into a plain-spoken exchange over
the possibilities of a future war be-
tween France and Great Britain.
The French. acting under re-
newed Instructions from Paris, told
the conference naval committee
with an air of finality that France
must remain free to build a subma-
rine flotilla nearly three times as
great as that she possesses and 10
construct in addition, cruisers, de-
stroyers and other auxiliary craft
up to a tonnage of $4,000 tons.
Surprise and Regret.
To the proposal. the Americans,
japanese and Italians replied with
expressions Of surprise and regret,
while the British charged that such
a building program must be regard
ed as a menace to British shores.
Arthur j. Balfour added that he
had no doubt, If occasion arose,
Great Britain would be equal to 1t,
but only If she reserved complete
freedom of action as to the con-
struction OF all types Of auXiliaries
which might be useful against un-
der-water war craft.
Agreeing that further argument
would be useless. the committee
turned its attention to collateral
including regulations for
future use of submarines, proposals
for limitation of the size and arma-
ment OF individual auxiliary vessels,
and details of the agreement al
ready sealed in principle regarding
capital ships.
Roots Proposal.
For the American delegation Eli
hu Root proposed a Joint declara-
ton reafflrming the obligation of
submarine commanders to warn
merchant ships before attack, to re-
frain from sinking vessels whose
crews and passengers could not first
be placed in safety, and to conform
in general to all the established
practices of international law. In
Mr.. Root also suggested a
change in existing usage to prohibit
atta clls on merchant vessels alto
gether and TO make submarine
who violate the regu-
lation, liable to trial as pirates.
sympathy Expressed.
General sympathy for the pur-
pose of these proposals was eX-
pressed by the representatives of
all the powers, but definite action
was deferred. Should an agreement
be reached, it is to be submitted to
all civilized nations with an invita-
ton for worldwide adherence.
Under a further proposal pre-
nosal presented by the American
delegation and given general, but
not final. approval by the other
plenipotentaries, no auxiliary yes
sci of more than 10000 tons could
be constructed by any Of the powers
and no a;rp.aro carrier could have
a tonnage of more than $1,000 tons.
A maximum airplane carrier tom
mage of 10000 for the United
States, 10000 tons for Great Brit
ain, $4,000 for Japan. $4,000 for
France. and $4,000 for Italy, also
was suggested by the Americans
and will be further discussed to-
morrow.
Result Of Deliberations.
The net result of the days delib-
erations, so far as actual progress
is concerned, was an agreement
that in future no gun of more than
/ 6-inch caliber shall be mounted
on a capital ship and none OF more
than eight inches caliber shall be-
included in the armament of any
vessel or airplane carrier.
Along with their demand for In
creased submarine and auXiliary
tonnage the French delegation pre-
sented in different form, but with
a reservation attached, their ac-
ceptance Of the capital ship ratio
under which France is to nave q
first line battleship fleet of 1I5.OoO
tons. The reservation provloes
that the French be permitted TO-
break in on the ten-year naval
holiday so as to begin construction
Of replacement tonnage in 1927
four years before the holiday ends.
Serious Interference.
In most quarters this exception
was not regarded as likely to en-
1anger the capital ship agreement,
but it was characterized by Mr..
Ralfour as a serious interference
With the holiday plan.
Albert Sarraut. head OF the
French delegation, presented the
and auxiliary estimates
If his government to the commit
zee in a speech declaring that the
'igures suggested were a maximum
,eduired for national defense.
Under these estimates france
would have submarine tonnage
If 10000 as against $1,000 she
low possesses and which it was
proposed that she retain unchang-
ID under the status quo plan of the
american compromise. The United
States has only $4,000 tons ana
treat Britain $4,000 tons and each
lad Offered under the compromise
PROPOSAL to reduce to 10000.
Powers Disappointed.
All powers expressed their dls-
ippointment over the French deci- I
ion, even the japanese, who had
lecIined to accept the compromise
,Ian. declaring they had hoped un--
il today that an agreement could
10 worked out along the lines or
he earlier American reduction