South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-12-17
new OBSTACLE
THROWN IN WAY
OF 5-6-S PLAN
Big Naval Program Threatens
to Scrap Whole Ship
Scrapping Project.

Continued from page one)
-----------~-~.-----~--
even sem!-ofhoiaI explanations az 20
Frances position. II did not pre-
vent however. a tumult OF discus
sion outside the committee member
ship.
"Details Lacking.
Details OF the French proposals
were lacking. The brief glimpse OF
the situation gained from British
sources before the secrecy curtain
was rung down again by the COM
mlttee Of fifteen. was ample 90 show
is disturbing nature.
While the British -American-Jap
auese agreement as TO the 5-5-3 ra-
ito az between themselves stands.
and r. expected by those who negoti-
ated Il 70 stnd agains, any develop
E1ent OF the conference. the whole
question Of ship scrapping and ship
building has been upset.
Upscts Triangular Agreement
To was asserted authoritatiyely for
the British viewpoint that determin-
alton OF any power outside the tri-
angular agreement 20 build up It's
naval forces over presents status. on
any substantial scale must OF neces-
sity mean not 4 reduction Of British,
American and Japanese fleets, as
Just agreed upon. hut an increase in
which the 5-5-3 proposal would be
maintained between the three.
The American and japanese view
point IN this regard was presented as
one with the British. with all three
powers deeply DESTROYS OF carrying
out the projected naval reductions.
II was reiterated officially for Italy
that she was anxious 20 stop naval
building Immediately and wished
only for n naval parity with Frence-
A summary OF these official ut
tersnces appeared 20 leave France
alone OF the five powers asking for
naval increases at the Washington
conference.
Second French Upset..
II was pointed out in some quar-
tiers that the first direct setback to
the Washington conference, called
specifically for the purpose Of reduc-
ing and limiting armaments had
come with Premier Brands asser-
ton OF the French view as TO land
forces and her reasons for maintain
ing and planning 20 continue 20
maintain the greatest army in the
world. All talk OF an agreement here
on Limitation OF land forces stop
ped with NJ. Brands statement.
In his reply TO Mr.. Hughes orig
inAl naval proposals. however NJ.
= 4 ,oH no
OF the other delegations 20 have con
Cured in the four principles under
lying the American plan. These in
Guided reduction OF capital ship
strength and general regard" to eX-
listing naval strength I'm working out
a Limitation agreement. Those prin-
ciples were followed In the prellmin-
ary three power agreement. but il
seems clear that whatever the de-
tails OF French naval proposals may
prove 70 be, they cannot be harmon
tied with the American proposal In
this respect. Apparently the French
group has not regarded NJ. Brands
statement 20 the conference as COM
hitting France % the American pro-
posals even IN principle.
N0L AnhuTHlA0unAADlt NIDrAAtlts
10 IL very certain that conference
officials generally do not believe a
situation has arisen due TO French
proposals which VIII ultimately
block the road 20 actual naval redJ/-
tions. Whatever disbursement
any OF them may feel at the prospect
OF prolonged committee wrangles to
bring about a satisfactory adjust
ment or ratios Cor all five powers Is
tempered by great hope that an ad-
Justraent can be found and that no
such building program for AL five a.
the unofficial disclosure OF Frances
attitude would indicate will be nee
essary.
so far as IL now is publicly un-
derstood. the French proposal seems
90 strike directly at almost every
phase OF the American plan except
the SOS naval ratio between
Great Britain. Japan and the United
States Even tho naval holiday
would DE strapped and there could
remain only the possibility OF an
agreement TO limit building az some
future point with vastly increased
naval forces all around
The American delegates were IN
session late Friday. presumably con-
sidcrinV the situation IN the face Of
the French proposals but no state
mept was made after the meeting.
Would Abolish subs.
In the naval committee OF hfteen
the British formally presented their
request for abolition OK the subma-
Tines. but discussion was deferred
and it was Indicated that the point
would not be pressed with any hope
Of success The request was all but
lost sight or in the stir created by
The presentation ~ the views OF
Il France.
What actually happened with re-
F spect 20 the French proposal was
( screened behind the Introduction OF
4 secrecy that surrounds the meetings
{ OF the committee OF tjfteen-a Sc
Z crecv which was agreed upon today
i by the committee Itself. An Official
( spokesman Of the British delegation.
Z however. made bold 10 say that the
Z French had presented a building
program that would give them ten
-S5 600 ton superdreadnauEhts dur
tng the ten years subsequent 20 1925