New-York tribune., 1921-12-20

morning, and the French intimated
that their demands would be taken
up at once.
Want Claim on Record
While this waz not admitted, it is
learned on high authority that the
French made it clear to Mr.. Hughes
that they insisted on presenting to
the naval subcommittee their argu-
ments for a battleship feet little
stronger than that Of Jalan. How
ever, it was also made clear that
they would be content, after pre-
sentlng their case to the sub-conl-
mittee and asserting that France
was first class power and entitled
to a feet certainly not further down
the line than third in the list of the
worlds navies, to accept the strength
assigned them by the American ex-
perts, which is one and three-quar-
ters-1. .75-as compared with for
Britain, for the United States and
3 for Japan. So the ratio would be
5-5-3-1A.
Then, however, will come the real
fight, the contest over big ship ratios
having been from the first q gesture
made partly to preserve Frances pride
as first class power and partly as
what she considered a skillful bit of
negotiating. Having yielded on the
big ship proposition, she will then pre-
sent vigorous case for large sub
marine fleet
London cables indicated that Pre-
mier BRAND told Ambassador Harvey
that France would accept the Hughes
ratio as far as it concerned capital
ships, but felt that she was entitled
to build more smaller craft
Proposal Startled Allies
The French claims for a battlesfs-
feet as large or larger than that of
Japan alarmed every nation attending
the conference, Italy because she
thought it imperative to have d feet
equal to that of France, but at the same
time did not want to spend the money
involved IN actually producing what
France said she wanted to do; Britain,
because her leaders could see no reason
for Frances sudden desire to become a
strong naval power unless it meant at
the same time an independence of need
for Great Britain America, because it
was perfectly obvious either that
Frances insistence upon her claims in
evitably would result in the whole
conference coming to naught or else
the impossible situation of the confer
ence informing France that the other
nations did not think 1t made any diff
ference what France said she was GO
ing to do.
The French demand for a big sub
marine ieet-they will ask for 10000
tons, the same amount assigned to
Great Britain and the United States
is more annoying to Great Britain
than any other nation represented,
Britain being the only country making
vigorous fight for the abolition OF the
submarine. The British also have been
very caustic about the French demand
for large submarine feet.
There are many things about this
conference that the French resent. A
statement printed in many newspapers
this morning that Britain had attempt
ed TO prevent France being included IN
the four-power treaty was vigorously
denied by the British to-day What
ever may be the truth about the argu-
ments made at the inception of the
idea of an agreement to take the place
of the Anglo-Japanese alliance, it was
from British sources that the first inti-
nation that France was TO be included
was given to newspaper writer's in
Washington. Constantly on guard
against anythiLe' which might be CON
strued as a slight. the French have
treasured up in their minds things
which had not even occurred to the
sharpest critics of the conference as
reasons for bitterness.
Appeal to BRAND Explained
All Of which explains in part why ii
was necessary for Chairman Hughes to
appeal TO Premier BRAND direct yes
terday by cable. Incidentally, it was
made known at American headquarters
to-day that the Secretary felt at per-
feet liberty to do this without thereby
casting any reflection on Sarraut or
Jusserand. the delegates who are on
the ground, because of a conversation
which he had with BRAND just as the
French Premier was leaving. NJ.
BRAND showed considerable emotion,
/ it was said, and the two hugged eacA
ether vigorously, promising. meanwhile,
| TO keep each other informed OF their
inmost thoughts
| So when Mr. Hughes had some in
most thoughts yesterday-to this ef-