Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-11-15

Considered most important among
the British is modification of the
program for replacement. Instead of a
flat ten-year holiday during which no
ships shall be built, the British have
in mind that the replacement program
be carried on from year TO year, and
thus keep the shipyards from going to
rot, or allow each country a one-ship
building plant.
The figure Of 10000 tons of subma-
rines fixed By the American proposals,
Great Britain's naval experts consider
too high. as the British navy never
possessed that tonnage of submersi-
bles. 1t is said that Great Britain may
even propose the abolition of subma-
rines and if she does not 60 that far,
will work limitation Of their size and
armament.
The British experts feel that the
limitations for airplane carriers give
the United States some atlvantage be-
cause the British already have a NUM-
Der which will become obsolete while
the United States will build new ones
of a superior character.
Great Britain's principal considera-
ton, it is understood, in framing the
reply which Mr.. Balfour will make has
been the question of what was to be
done to bring France and Italy within
the scope Of the plan for limitation.
The American delegates, it is under
stood, impressed their British col
leagues with the advisability of first
disposing of the question as it affects
the three principals-the United States,
Great Britain and Japan.
American officials emphasized that
Ill No+
tary Hughes was purely an American
proposal and that advance knowledge
of it had been kept carefully from all
the representatives of the. other pow
ers. Although it had become known
that some far-reaching plan would be
presented early in the conference. it
was declared that no details either as
to the basis of the proposal or the
exact time of its presentation were
permitted to reach any of the ether
delegates
1t was assumed that several lays
would be required for the naval adyis-
ers Of Great Britain and Japan as the
powers chiefly concerned. to pre- pare
any estimate of the acceptability of the
sweeping American proposals.
AT the state department. there was
every indication that the public re-
"NeiotA tiAAS 6oNSiAAVAI AtISt
bold step In the conference had been
entirely reassuring. Messages. of
praise and approval came to Secretary
Hughes office by the thousand and
the White House likewise was deIuged
with eongratulatory expressions.
A synopsis of the proposal for arma-
ment reduction has been sent to Ameri-
can diplomatic and consular agents
the world for such use as
they may deem expedient. 1t was ex-
planned that this step was another part
of the effort to the American govern
ment to give the proposals the widest
publicity.
Naval officers in discussing the
American proposals emphasized as an
feature the fact that the
United States would be left without
battle cruisers while Japan and Great
Britain would each retain four of these
ships, the newest addition to capital
fighting craft BY suggesting such
program it appears that the United
States sought to convey concrete as
surance of the unselfish purpose with
which it has entered the conference as
declared by President Harding in his
oDening address