New-York tribune., 1921-12-25
Compromise Provides for
Reduction by England
and u. S. to 10000
Tons; No Other Change
Decision Hinges
On French Action
Instructions From Paris
Expected Before Meet
ing of Council Tuesday


" <NSA14 4AN " O-N, DSc- II by He
Associated Press An American
effort to compromise the submarine
controversy failed of immediate sue
cess to-day before the arms confer
ence naval committee when Japan
refused TO accept suggested reduc-
tion Of her submersibles to $1,000
tons and French action was deferred
pending advices from Paris.
When the committee adjourned
after four hours debate to meet
again next Tuesday, some members
of the American group appeared dis
couraged over the prospect for any
early agreement on submarines, al
though negotiations are to continue.
The American compromise plan;
presented after the British effort for
complete suppression of submarines
had been shelved, proposed $4,000
ton limitations for Great Britain and
the United States instead of the
original American figure of 10000
tons each, and virtually a status quo
for the other three powers.
Britain Alone Accepts
The British delegation, failing to OBJ
tain favorable action on suppression
OF submarines, accepted the new
American reduction scheme. The
French group Indicated that it would
be unacceptable, but deferred full
answer pending Paris advices. Japan
fatty held out for the fun $4,000 tons
in submarines under the original
American 'hve-fve-three" ratio plan.
Italy accepted the compromise plan.
conditioned on Observation-Disclosures
parity with France, the Italian dele
gates contending that 81 800 tons would
De the correct limitation fer both
France and Italy.
The French delegation indicsted that
II would not oppose parity with Italy
IT submarines as well as in capital
ships, but withheld approval of any
tonnage limitation Of less than the
So'0O0-ton figure suggested by Freuch
experts Under status quo France
would have about $4,000 tons in sub
mersibles.
The American group made it plain
that while il had great sympathy for
the British viewpoint in opposing all
submarine warfare, il was inclined TO
agree with the American advisory com
mlttee that submarines were a legiti-
mate weapon- 1t was said the matter
had been discussed with President
Harding. and tnat tae willingness of
the American government to proceed
at some future date toward an inter
national discussion of submarine war
fare on wider basis than the present
conference had been indicated.
U-Boat Tactics To Be Barred
1t was also Indicated that the Ameri-
can delegation would bring into the
conference later resolution condemn
ing III formal fashion for the five pow
ers such use OF submarines as was
made by Germany during the World
War
Before The British proposal was
shelved. which was done tacitlys and
without comment or formal action. Ar
athur J. Salfour made final plea for
the Brltlsh case against underwater
craft AT the same tine he placed for
mally on the records Of the conference
concise statement of British views
on this point, and urged that a world
conference be called later again to take
up the question.
10 rnouce agreement the American
delegation again offered. as in the
capital ship proposal to make the
greatest sacrifice in tonnage American
hgures show present submarine
strength OF $4,000 tons for~the United
states and $4,000 tons for Great Bri-
Tam. Under the compromise plan the
United States thus would scrap 35.00o
tons and the British $4,000. The effect
OF the American British agreement
to-day, had it been ratified by the
other three powers, would have been
a net reduction Of nearly $4,000 tons
IN the worlds submarine tonnage.
Plan Aimed at HARMONY
Inc american compromise plan an
peared 10 have been aimed at mestin-
nall way tee desires OF each power in
submarine tonnage limitation It was
an attempt to solve the controvar~v
that had arisen in the Naval Commit
tee with Great Britain and France in
direet opposition and poles apart in
their views as to the Importance of
submarines in w@~fsre The British
desire to reduce sus.-arine tonnage
would have been met in i large degree
ON the one hand under the American
plan, while on the other the French de-
sire TO increase submarine tonnnara
and the French submarine ratio aS
compared to Great Britain and Amer
Ica also would have been met IN ap-
proxim asely the same degren.
Action Of Japan in refusing to
swerve from the line of the 5-5-3 ratio
injected wholly new element into the
controversy and that aad ultimate
French decision on the compromise PRO
'posal constitute the point OF departure
for the resumption Of negotiations on
Tuesday.
American figures on the present sub
marine strength OF the five powers are:
United States, $4,000 tons; Great
~ frff
$4,000, and Italy, $1,000. In connection
with the Italian desire to accept only
equal submarine tonnage with France.
it was stated that Italy would prefer
to haze France scale down her SUI
marine feet 10000 tons to equal thu
present Italian fleet, but If that could
net be done Italy would demand thu
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