Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1921-12-22
FRENCH CLASH
WITH BRITISH
ONSUbMARlNES
Question Will be Fought
Out Today-U. S. Takes
Middle Ground
CUT is EXPECTED
Senate Opponents of Pacific Treaty
Launch Bitter Attack on Compact
Take Advantage of Disagreement.

Take Advantage of Disagreement.
Washington, Dec. 22.-The French
and British delegations will lock
horns today over the question Of sub
marine tonnage and auxiliary cruiser
strength.
The issue is expected to be fought
out at length in secret meeting OF
the committee on naval armamentss:
The French will present in detail
their claims for an allotment in ex-
cess of that which would be allowed
her under the Hughes program. The
British, on the other hand, are eX-
pected not only to combat the French
claim, but to renew their efforts to
have submarines entirely outlawed.
Occupying a midway position, it
may fall to the lot of the American
delegation to act as arbiter. At all
events, in spite Of the determined at
titude heretofore maintained by the
French, Washington is hopeful that a
satisfactory compromise will be
reached. Indications were that the
British would win out to the extent
of bringing about some reduction in
T. the limits on submarine tonnage laid
down by the Hughes formula.
Following the furry stirred up by
the conflict of opinion between Presi-
dent Harding and the members of the
American delegation over the mean
ing of the proposed four-power Far
Eastern treaty, as it applies to the
mainland of Japan, the senate was
the scene today of an animated debate.
Senator Reed, of Missouri, leading
Democratic "irreconcilabie" in the
! Versailles treaty fight, made the
principal speech, in which he attack
ed the president directly and ridiculed
the chief executive for his apparent
lack Of information as to the commit
ments Of his delegates in the arms
conference.
Meanwhile, consideration by the
conference of Far Eastern questions
generally remained at a standstill,
pending word from Toxic that might
break the deadlock between the
japanese and Chinese delegations
ONCI lIC ollallIaIlS
The delegates from the five naval
powers, constituting the committee or
naval armament, win begin consid-
Grafton today of the question of SUBJ
marines and other subsidiary craft,
with the American delegation appar-
emily standing about midway between
the British and French in catch-as-
catch-can negotiations.
There is no infleXible principle,
such as Secretary Hughes held the
5-5-3 ratio to be in the capital ship
negotiations, for the guidance of any
of the delegations. The theory then
used of a relative reduction in exist
ing strength will not have weight,
and each nation will proceed from the
premise Of what it regards as best
for its own welfare.
Shantung has been moved from the
center of the stage for the time be-
ing, and other Far Eastern matters
still are held in the background, so
that the attention of the conference
will be concentrated on the question
of submarines and other auxiliary
craft.
Nothing will be settled in the
Shantung matter until the Japanese
hear from Toxic about the Chinese
proposals for purchase of the rail-
road, and about the claim made by
the japanese argument for voice
in the operation of the road. Mean
while American and japanese dele
gates profess faith in the outcome
and the Chinese appear nervously
uncertain.
As the submarine fight opens, the
stand of the American delegation
which will be influential, is that tht
submarine figures mentioned in Tho
Hughes plan probably are too high
Those figures were 10000 tons each
for the United States and Grea
Britain and $4,000 for Japan. A
the same time the American delega
tion is opposed to absolute abolition
of the submarine
1t follows that there is a certain
measure of aid and comfort for botl
Great Britain and France in tn,
American position. The latter prof
its in that she is assured that tht
American weight will not be thrown
against the submarine. Great Britain
= profits in that the American view viii
strengthen the second line of wha
is understood to be the real British
position, namely. that failing to wi,
abolition there should be restriction.
Very likely it will turn out that tn
British will gain more than the Frenc\
4 from the American stand. Certainl,
they will have tactical advantage |,
the arguments in committee. TIL
British will be able to argue. wit
force that the French should not hav
as large submarine tonnage as they
since there is no comparison in siz