Pueblo chieftain., 1921-12-27

distributed as at present in the various
sea areas. Under this suggestion which
has so far received no formal indorse-
ment from any of the delegations, the
United States, Japan. Italy, and
France would undertake to maintain
the tonnage of submarine they now
nave stationed in Atlantic. the Pacific
the Mediterranean and the Adriatic.
The proposal to write into the naval
limitation treaty an agreement for
| reassembling the conference has begun
to take more definite form. An In
formal exchange of views among the
American, British and French dele
gates has developed Il feeling that by
/ that time it may be possible to work
out an extension of the naval holiday
in the light OF the seven year test OF ths
agreement. In any event it has been
sajd there will be details to work out
of the program that is TO replace the
ten year fleet status with actual ap-
plication OF the "5-5-3' capital ship
ratio. 1t Is also reported more prob
able that some definite step toward q
| world conference on submarines, prob
ably to be held within three years
will be taken soon. What form IL will
take is in doubt pending final action
here on submarines and 1t is certain
that the American deiegation plans to
exhaust every effort TO bring about an
agreement as to submarine tonnage
which will result in actual reduction of
tonnage and a limitation of future
submarine building problems before
passing to over auxiliary craft propor-
tions.
The initial word for q world sub
marine conference came from the Brit
ish delegation in line with its fruitless
effort to get this conference to agree
to abolishment of underwater craft en-
treiy. Tho American. delegation ex-
pressed much sympathy with the Brit
ish view but was not ready to consider
such a step. except in conjunction with
all nations. ''
| 1t is pointed out that in the event
| Of the calling OF a special world sub
| ma rine conference such matters rs
use Of poison gas. air craft bombing
and any other new agencies OF war
could he talked over with q view TO
setting up Al international code TO
govern their employment. The WASH
ing,on conference Is regarded. as too
limited In scope to deal with such
questions. 1t further appears possible
that tho difficult' question, Of land arm
amrnts could bc put forward to the
supplementary world assembly as thrcc
years may show chnrsed conditions IN
Europe which will then admit OF an
agreement to cJirb army Establishments
as well as navics. .... H.. I
The project 10 call another session Of
| the five power naval conference rlrst
was suggested 1t was Understood pS
the French delegation.
! I, At first, the date suggested was 1881
when the decade stop In building erds.
| Matters to be discussed then. how
ever. would have To do very IarEeiy
with replacement building. LORD Lee OF
the British group and Secretary
Hughes arc said to have expressed the
opinion that tho question should he
taken ur three years before the holi-
day expires and AS II now stands tho
meeting would he some time in 1s-s-.s.
II, should he recalled that while the
five fIvc-thr capital ship ratio has
been accepted Professionally at least by
all five powers 1t docs not become Ct
fectivc until the ton year holiday ends:
| During the holiday .;reat Britain. viii
r,nintaIn a 20 rnr cent larger cartta'
/ ship force than tho United States. She
has axreod TO scale down at the end or
that period to an equality with the
| American flcet. however. and this pro-
cess cannot he worked out now In de-
i,er' Ev again going over tho ground
three years before the holiday ends.
however. the method of British reduc-
'ion can he provided for. even II II
does not then seem advisable to pro-
vide for further naval reductions all
around as many delcsatcs hope will be
! tho case The three year interval Will
hermit the building of new ships to DIS
place old. In the r"ar-anEement or ton
rpre under tho 'a-'-s program.
1 It is also regarded ns altogether prob
able that IN years tho present contro-
vorsv "a 10 merits of capital ships and
air croft IN war will have cleared IT,
self should tho predictions OF soma
experts that aircraft eventually VIII
make capi'al ships useless have been
made good the seven year session
would write that development into n
now naval aEreemen. .ontempls tinG
abandonment of the capita1S. II Is
pointed out. In tho same way n could
applv to tho new theory of non-c COM
petitive naval building any other sell
entific DEVELOPMENTS in the wav OF new
agencies OF warfare which the years
ihave brought 10 light. -.