Evening star., 1921-12-28
Hope of Agreement
Given Up as New
Demand Is Made.
Japan UNWILLING
TO ACCEPT RATIO
Delegates Hold $1,000
Tons Is Minimum for
Undersea Craft.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

the boa I'd today, when the French dele
cation informed the Washington con-
ference committee on limitation of ar
,naments that their government "ouio
not accede to less than 10000 tons OF
submarines for France.
The japanese, who had declared that
$4,000 tons of submarines was the mimi
mum, which they could accept. made
statement, saving that they would like
To 20 along with the United States III
this matter of limitation of submarines.
but, because of the attitude of other
powers, an agreement would not be pos
sible
Insist on $50. .O0O-Ton Auxiliary.
The committee OH the limitation of
armament meets again at 3 o'clock
this afternoon.
The French in addition to stating
that they desired 10000 tons of sub
marines, said that they would re-
auire $4,000 tons of other auxiliary
craft.
The French agreed today to ad-
here to the capitol ship ratio of So
S-1.75-1.75. for the United States.
Great Britain. Japan. France. and
minor reservations, however, one
one with regard to the duration or the
naval holiday and the other with re-
gard to requirements.
Stand Pat ON Own Terms.
As the French delegation entered
the Pan-American building a Ques-
tion was put as to whether there
was any hope of settlement of the
submarine question.
THAT depends" said spokesman
for the French, upon the terms. II
our terms are accepted. then there
will be a settlement" The French
answer to the AmericaR-~p plan--for
limitation of submarines would be
presented today, it was said.
the conference. Secretary Hughes.
when the session opened today was
that the submarine question was still
open. In British circles hope was
still held out an agreement eventual
ly would be reached.
In the event of failure to bring
about an agreement on the submarine
and auxiliary craft, the submarine
will have succeeded in doing what
the battleship could not-in bringing
ference: this notwithstanding the
contention of the British that the
submarine should be abolished as a
weapon of no value except against
enemy merchant marine.
The nations, it was said by one OF
the delegates to the conference to-
day, would be left free to carry out
such building programs as they de.
sired with regard to submarines and
other auxiliary craft.
French to Announce Decision.
The French, it was said. would an
nounce at the session today that they
would adhere to the ratio decided
upon for capital ships, irrespective
of what was the outcome of the sub
marine question.
This means that the Washington
conference will still have as one of
its accomplishments an agreement for
the limitation of capital ship tom
rage, even if the matter of auxiliary
craft goes over. The ratio fixed for
the five nations will be 5-5-3-l.75-1.75,
in the following order: The United
States. Great Britain, Japan, France
and Italy.
There will be also the ten-year
naval building holiday for capital
ships.
The European nut, it appears. has
been harder to crack than was that of
the far east, in the matter Of limita-
tion of naval armament. This is
predicated. of course. on the SUPPOSE
tion that the submarine and auxiliary
craft question is not to be settled.
Conference in Danger of Charge.
The Washington conference-unless
some agreement can be arrived at
with regard to the submarine and
other auxiliary crafts in danger, it
was said today. of being charged
with having failed in it's efforts at
limitation of armament.
The capital ship, it has been held
by many, including some naval ex-
perts. proved ineffective in the last
war, owing to the new weapons of
warfare, particularly the submarine
and aircraft. This is vigorously de-
MED by the British. who point out
that fifteen millions of troops were
transported from Great Britain to
France without loss. But there are
naval experts who insist this was due
to the work of the destroyers and
other anti-submarine craft and not
to the battleship.
So now. say the critics of the capital
ship, it is proposed to scrap battle
cause no one really wants them; be-
cause they cost too much money to
build. and at the same time are not
as effective as they were once con-
sidered
Way Free for. Competition.
At the same time. the way is to be
left quite free for competition in the
construction of submarines, cruisers,
destroyers. aircraft, etc, the naval
weapons of the day. The naval race
will continue, but at least it will not
cost so much to carry 1t on as if the
hsttleship. costing about $4O,0OO,O00
each. were to be included in the naval
building race.
a spokesman for the British made
1t clear today that il no agreement
is reached as to the submarines and
other auxiliary craft. the British will
40 right ahead building as many as
ttey deem necessary for their navy
tie first Indication, it was said later,
as to what may be expected in the
way of naval competitive building in
the event of failure to agree to limi-
tation of submarines
There was much talk in conference
circles again today regarding a fu-
ture conference, to be called at IN