Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1921-12-27
COMPROMISE PLAN
ON UNDERSEA CRAFT
BY AMERICA FAILS
Japan Refuses to Vary From
5-5-3 Ratio in Allotment
of Submarines - Great
Britain Yields


Associated Press.)-An American eff
fort to compromise the submarine
controversy failed of immediate sue
cess today before the arms confer
ence naval committee when Japan
refused to depart from the 1913"
ratio proportion Of submersibles for
her fleet and French action was de-
ferred 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 10000
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.
The British delegation, failing to
obtain favorable action on suppress
sion of submarines, accepted the new
American reduction scheme. The
French group indicated that it would
be unacceptable, but deferred full an
swer pending Paris advices. Japan
fatty held out for the full $4,000
tons in submarines under the origi-
nal American $500 ratio plan.
Italy accepted the compromise plan.
conditioned on a submarine tonnage
parity with France, the Italian dele
gates contending that $1,000 tons
would be the correct limitations for
both France and Italy.
BalfOur's Final Plan
The French delegation indicated
that it would not oppose parity with
Italy in submarines as well as CAPT
tai ships, but withheld approval Of
any tonnage limitation of less than
!A1e 90,000-ton figure suggested by
French experts. Under a status quo,
France would have about $4,000 tons
in submersibles.
The American group made it plain
that while it had great sympathy
for the Briti-h viewpoint in opposing
all submarine warfare, it was in
clined to agree with the American
advisory committee that submarines
were a legitimate weapon. 1t was
said the matter had been discussed
with President Harding, and that
the willingness of the American
government to proceed at some fu
tire date toward an international
discussion of submarine warfare on
"a wider-basiS than the present con-
ference had been indicated.
1t was also indicated that the
American delegation would bring
into the conference later a reSolu-
ton condemning in formal fashion
for the five powers such use of sub
marines as was made by Germany
during the World war.
Before the British proposal was
shelved, which was done tacitly and
without comment or formal action.
Arthur J. Balfour made a final plea
for the. British case against under.
water craft. At the same time he
placed formally on the records OF
the conference a concise statement
of British views On this point. and
urged that a world conference be
called later again to take up the
question.
Americas Sacrifice
To induce agreement, the Amer
lean delegation again offered as
in the capital ship proposal, to make
the greatest sacrifice in tonnage.
American figures show a present
submarine strength of $4,000 tons
for the United States and $4,000
tons for Great Britain. Under the
compromise plan the United States
thus would scrap $4,000 tons and
the British $4,000. The effect CT
the American-British agreement to-
day, had it been ratified by the
other three powers, would have been
net reduction of nearly 10000 tons
in the worlds submarine tonnage.
The American compromise plan
appeared to have been aimed at
meeting half way the desires Of each
power in submarine tonnage limita
ton. 1t was an attempt tossolve the
controversy that had arisen in the
naval committee with Great Britain
and France in direct opposition and
poles apart in their views as to the
importance of submarines in war
fare. The British desire to reduce
submarine tonnage would have beer
. met in a large degree on the one
hand under the American plan, While
on the other, the French desire to
increase submarine tonnage and the
- French submarine ratio as compared
TO Great Britain and America, also
would have been met in approx
mately the same degree.
Action of Japan in refusing TO
sverve from the line of the 800 ra-
ton injected a wholly new element
into the controversy and that ana
Z ul4i,,orte French decision on the COM
nron,ise proposal constitute the
noint of departure for the resump
ton Of negotiations on Tuesday.
The reception given the American
nronossls was said to have been con-
siderate but all of the other pow
ers spol1esmen indicated desire for
further study and discussion OF the
limitation program. With three OIL
the powers standing vigorously
against the British abolition plan
and the United, States today bringing
forth q program for limitation in,
stead of Adjustment, the British po-
sition in favor of aboloshing sub
marines was accepted in American
{ quarters as considerably weakened.
The British delegates, it was said
TODAY Joined in the free discussion
Of the American proposal, but with
out abandoning entirely their apoll'
ton view.
Christmas Greetings
Heads of the foreign delegations
participating in the armament con-
ference transmitted through the AS
ISOLATED Press tonight, Christmas
greetings to the American people.
The delegation chiefs, one and all,
took occasion to speak most op'
timistically of the achievements of
the conference to date ana TO point
the way to a new era in international
relationships developed by the con-
ference.
Admiral Baron Kato issued the
statement on behalf of Japan. Albert
Sarraut spoke for France, Senator
Schanzer for Italy, and Jonkherr