Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-21

The premier's message showed that
reservations attached to acceptance Of
the 175,o00 capital ship tonnage had
to do with light cruisers. torpedo
boats and submarines" This has
served to bring the conference to
standstill until the submarine issue
can be solved. when the five power
capital ship agreement will be coms
pleted automatically.
1t is assumed that the full naval
committee was called to lay out a pro-
gram for the discussion of submarines
and antt-submarine craft. as tho two
British opinion. This implies that
the auxiliary craft of the American
plan must be shaped into agreement
before the conference committees can
return to ratify the capital ship
agreement.
-. A direct step towards bringing up
the submarine issue in its first phase
the British proposal to abolish sub.
mersible warcraft-was taken today,
Ihe British delegation asked that q
pIenary session be called to permit
presentation of their case. At such
an open session Lord Lee for tho
British group will set out reasons why
the British believe submarines should
pe banned. He will read a prepared
statement. 1t is understood. But there
are indications that even In that state-
ment the British will show lack of
conviction that tho conference will
share tho British view on submarines.
II will. 1t Is understood. set out also
the secondary British proposal that
II submaripes are to be retained the
tonnage allotmcnts be cut far below
the existing strength principle OF tho
Amerioah proposal. There Is also n
suggestion In British quarters that
should neither Wow prevail tho Brit
ish would deem 1t necessary to seek
radical Increase In their attotments
or anti-submarine craft as a measure
OF self defense. That means more
sibly airplane carriers.
Mr.. Hughes Speaks Frankly.
Thc correspondence between Mr..
Hughes and Premier BRAND shows
mat a. conference chairman Mr..
Hughes deal frankly with the situa-
,,on orsated by the French proposal
10 build ten now capital ships.
II regret to say" he said. chat
after canvassing tho matter and taxi
ing tho best information I can OBJ
,ain' am compelled to conclude that
1t would not be possible on this basis
to carry thru tho agreement"
Mr.. Hughes after pointing out that
tho retained fleet agreement between
Great Britain. tho United States and
Japan was contingent upon an ..ap-
propriate agreement with France and
Italy" and that there will not be
the slightest difficulty In making an
agreement with Italy. II We can reach
q suitable understanding with France.
Then you will observe the attitude of
Franco Will determine tho success or
failure of these efforts to reduce the
heavy burden of naval armament"
Hc also stressed his Wow that the
premicrs statement indicating to tho
conference .'thc particular situation OF
Franco with respect to land armas
ment seemed TO point to the very
great Importance of reducing tho
naval armament"
AT this time he added. when
VIC are anxious to aid France In full
recovery OF her economic life IL
would bc disappointing TO bc advised
That she was contemplating putting
hundreds OF millions in battlcshipr.'
That portion OF Premier Brands
reply taken as acceptance of the
American $4,000 capital ship ton.
mage proposal and beyond the strict
letter of which II is indicated tho
French group did not go today. reads:
with regard TO the tonnage of capi-
al ships. that ~ TO say, attacking