Evening star., 1921-12-31
FRENCH REPUDIATE ARTICLE
p UNFOLDING SUBMARINE ACTS
110I011V0 O0OTn1NuVI
Suspicious Aroused, Voiced by Lord Lee
In Naval Committee, Result in
New Assurances.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Agreements reached yesterday by
the naval committee of the arms con-
ference included size and aggregate
tonnage limitations on aircraft car
riers and. subject only to French gov
ernment confirmation, on size and
armament of auxiliary craft.
The American proposal to limit air
craft carriers to maximum of $4,000
tons displacement was unanimously
accepted. the basis of relative tonnage
arranged being: Great Britain and the
United States. $4,000 tons each, or
five carriers of the maximum size: ia
pan. $1,000 tons. or three ships OF the
maximum tonnage; France and Italy,
10000 tons each, or little more than
would be required for two maximum
size ships. The French tonnage re-
suited from the statement of French
experts that on examination of the
question France might prefer to have
three 20.OOO-ton carriers to two
21,000-ton craft.
Sent to Rome Government.
When the naval committee met yes
terady Senator Schanzer said the Root
proposal, to ban submarine warfare
against merchant ships entirely. as
amended by Mr.. Balfour for the Brit
iSh, to be Immediately effective as be-
tween the five Signatory powers pend
ing its ratification as new statement
of international law. had been COM
municated to the Rome government.
which prevented further debate by the
Italians. NJ. Sarraut made a similar
statement for the French group. and
Chairman Hughes agreed that discus
sion in the circumstances would be of
limited value, but invited comment by
any delegate.
of hn p,it; ;S-l, 4
he felt there was a .'miSunderstand-
ing" in the French group as to the
British attitude on the submarine
question.
Il cannot help feeling he said
that here We have a unique oppor-
tunity for the French delegation and
government to reaSsure the British ad-
miralty and public opinion in regard
to this matter. of which l hope they
will avail themselves.
want to explain to our French
friends, if | may. why it is we have
these special apprehensions which
have been expressed so forcibiy in
connection with France.
we are not clear what are the
views of the French naval staff on
this matter of the utilization of sub
marines in time of war. 1t is true
by any means determine the action
of governments. If they did. no
doubt we should some day be placed
in position which the late Lord
Salisbury described when he said:
If We listened to the experts we
Should have to put a garrison on the
moon to protect it against invasion
from Mars"
But the views of naval experts of
the experts, are of Importance unless
and until they are disavowed by the
governments they serve
Quotes French Article.
Lord Lee then referred to recent
articles on submarine warfare in the
French Revue Maritime. signed by
Cauitaine de Fregate CaStex, .'at that
time chief of one of the important
bureaus of the French naval staff, -
which also directed publication of the
revue. he said. These articles. Lord
Lee added, We're designed Ito throw
ridicule on those wh& criticised the
German methods. in the late war"
He said numerous extracts from
these articles claiming that "tOrDedO'