Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1921-12-17

talk decision" An official communioue
as to the session said merely that the
committee met, adjourned and would
meet again Saturday.
There were indications that the
French group had not concluded
presentation of its caucus in the three
hour session of the Is committee dur
ing the day. They are expected to
continue Saturday and pending that,
ut is believed the French delegates
are in communication with their gov
ernment, possibly to see broader pow
ers.
May Modify Plan
French spokesmen have repeatedly
pointed out that they were without anv
official knowledge of what was in prog
ress in the big three naval negotia-
tions eliminating in the triangular
agreement. They received the official
announcement Of the agreement late
Thursday and it appeared possible thar
when the French government had taken
time to study closely the three-power
understanding. notifications in French
proposals might be Forthcoming. Vague
hInts of such possible DEVELOPMENTS
were IN circulation Friday night but
whether founded on knowledge or hone
could not be determined.
Ihe relentless rules of silence an
piled to committee of 15 deliverations
prevented any official or even semi
position. .
Details of the French proposal.
were lacking: The brief glimpse Of the
sstuatlon gained from British sources
before the secrecy curtain was VINO
down again by the committee of 15
was ample to show its disturbing ma
ture. -"
While the British American Tan.
anese agreement as to the fiye-five-
three ratio, between themselves
stands. and is expected BY those who
negotiated it to stand against any do
Feiopment of the conference. the whole
question of ship serapping and shin
Duliding has been upset. II was ne
serted authoritatively for the British
viewpoint that determination of anv
power outside the triangular agreement
TO building up its naval force over
present status on any substantial scale.
must OF necessity mean mot \ re,}nr.
non OF British. American and Ian
anese fleets, as just agreed upon. bit
an increase in which the five-fivs-
three proportion would be maintained
between the three. @~1
Italy Would Help
The American and Jananess v;a,-
point in this regard was presented az
at one with the British, with ali threa
powers deeply desirous of carrying out
tne projected naval reductions. II
was reiterated officially for Italy that
she was aExio.s to stop naval buiIl-
ing imme medlately and wished only for a
nsVa, ~ parity with France. A summary
VI tnese Official utterances appeared
ers, asking for naval increases at the
washington conference. It was nc;ntD
ed OUT In some quarters that the fret
se1paek to. the Washington conference
calied specifically for the purpose of
reuucfhg and limiting armaments had
come with Premier Brands assert;on
OF the French view as to land fnrcos
ana her reasons for maintaining and
Planned to continue to mainfnin IN
greatest army in the world.
IN ms reply to Mr.. Hughes original
naval proposals. however. NJ. Brand
was understood by members of the 9th
e er delegations to have concurred In
'ns . Iour principles underlying the
american ...n plan. Apparently the French
Sup : mas not regarded NJ. Brands
s..eMeht t; 70 the conference as commit
~ AAC AmCElCH0 DrNnna.
ais; even in principle.
it Is very certain that confarane.
generally do not believe = ST.
uatlon has arisen due to French nro-
posals which will ultimately block tbe
road to actual naval reductions.
May Halt Program
The tendency Of naval building to-
ward var larger ships year by year has
been manifest. 1t may have PLAYED
a part IN the determination TO call fhe
conference. And. if France has in
fact Indicated purpose to build 10
So. .OO0-ton ships, 1t might also, in naval
opinion. result in abandonment of the
Sa.O00-ton maximum limitation for
capital ships proposed by Mr.. Hughes.
Both the United States and japan
now have on the ways ships OF more
than 10000 tons and Great Britain;
has ordered. but held up work on, four
super Hoods Of $4,000 tons each. IL it
should become necessary to revise up
ward the tonnage Of each power to-
permit France to build on such scale
as a 10 ship plan contemplated, the
other three powers, it was said, hardly
would agree to throw away all theyI
have spent on ships Of 10000 tons orI
more and start building $4,000 tonnes
nstsad