New-York tribune., 1921-12-19
French Premier Is Told
Unexpected Proposal
Fails to HarmOnize
With Conference Plans
Paris Said to Back
Big Navy Program
Aims to Build First Yes
sci in 1926 and Com
plete the Last in lo41

WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (By The
Associated Press) The French pro-
posal for capital ship ratio permit
ting France to construct and main
tain $4,000 tens has been taken up
with Aristidc BRAND, Premier Of
France, by Secretary of State
Hughes, it was learned tonight. This
information was obtained following
an authoritative statement that the
full strength of the French govern
ment was behind the proposals sub
mitted last week to the Armament
Limitation Conference committee of
fifteen by the French delegates.
Mr.. Hughes is understood to have
called the attention Of NJ. BRAND to!
the entirely unexpected nature of the
French proposal and to its failure to
harmonic with the basic principles
upon which the limitation of naval
drmam6nCS plan was Drawn.
Represents Fixed Program
When the French proposal was made
last week there was no official an
nouncement of its character, but it
was learned informally that the French
schedule contemplated the construction
of ten uperdreadnoughts. 1t was not
until tonight that it become known
that the proposal was not q tentative
proposition at all, but was intended as
the serious program of the Paris gov
ernment- The proposal provided for the
replacement by 1941 of the present
French battle feet by ten capital ships.
Authoritative French opinion, as OBJ
its resulting ratio for France was en-
tirely reasonable. Il was made plain
thet there was no disposition to modify
the proposals in their vital features or
to accept the 175,00O-ton ratio proposed
by the American delegation.
The first new ship would be laid down
in 1926, under the French plan submit
ted to the committee, and each year the
keel of an additional ship would be laid
to replace gradually and augment the
present capital ship tonnage Of France,
which, in the opinion Of her govern
ment, is antiquated in design and in
adequate properly to protect the ma
tions interests.
The naval experts of the French del
egation estimated that the last of the
new ships would be ready for service in
1941, Or not before ten years after the
period of the naval holiday contem-
plated in the limitation agreement now
before the conference
Plan Outlined in Figures
The essential features of the French
plan were submitted in committee in a
table illustrating proposed construction
as follows:
Capital ship
Year. tonnage.
] 926 e. 1c4 ,ooo. (All old dreadnoughtsl.
1881. 200. 900. (Two new, six old dread
noughts)
1886. .235. 900. Zone old. seven new dread
1941. $50, 900. .(Ten new dreadnoughts)
An analysis of the table, it was ex-
planned, would show that the French
navy at the end of ten years would
figure about 100000 tons of capital
ships. including two new dreadnoughts,
and that this would be only 10000
tons, representing approximately the
tonnage of the two new ships, over the
allotment made to France under the
American plan.
The Paris government has been kept
fully informed of what transpired in
the conference on Thursday, Friday
and Saturday No recommendation for
change has been made from the delega-
tion here and no supplementary in
structions have been received from
Paris. The conviction exists among
members of the delegation that none
will be received unless recommended
by the delegation.
Change in View Forecast
The members of the delegation are
confident that the more their figures
are examined the less will they be op-
posed by either the American govern
ment or American pub ic opinion, but
even if they were found unacceptable,
they declare, it is not seen how they
/. could be reduced materially, having in
view the strength of the colonial party
in France. This, it was explained, is
not political organization in Parlia-
ment, but is composed of Senator's and
Deputies of all political groups who
are devoted to the development Of
French possessions abroad. The trade
with the French colonies is now upward
of 2,000,000,000 francs a year and is
regarded by the French public general
ly as one of the greatest future sources
of national wealth.
If public opinion is to be the
guide tor the Freach delegation, it was
pointed out by its members, French
opinion is the only one that they can
follow.
While much regret is expressed over
the impression that appears to exist
among the delegates of the three major
naval powers that France fps surprised
them by asking more than had been ex-
pected, members of the French delega-
tion consider this as in no sense their
responsibility, because they gave their
| figures as soon as they were asked to
! do so.
Ratio Never Accepted
! Premier Brands acceptance in prin-
ciple of Mr.. Hughes's plan, according
l tn French efrclas xHAa IL Id fndirntoa