The Morgan County press. (Wartburg, Tenn.) 1916-1926, 1922-01-13
HUGHES GETS
BRAND NOTE
x
Conference Was to Deal With
Costly Craft, French
Declare. :
DROPS BATTLEsHIP DEMAND
France Accepts Proposal for Capital
Ship Fleet of 175,0o0 Tons
Text of Premier's Message
is Given Out.

eASSSpeSu oCSiStoAJ Au6HCo PAOPoodA
for capital ship fleet Of 175,O00 tons.
She drops her demand for ten modern
battleships and battle cruisers.
In notifying the chairman of the
conference Of this decision, Premier
BRAND makes the important reserva-
ton that his country must have the
liberty to build strong defensive feet
of light cruisers, torpedo boats and
submarines.
| The full committee on the limita-
ton of armament is to meet and dis
cuss Frances demand for auxiliaries
and submarines.
Brands communication to Hughes
was In reply to cablegram which the
American secretary of state had sent
him when the French delegation in
Washington suddenly presented the
conference with a demand for the
building Of ten capital ships.
In this communication Hughes point
ed out to the French premier that the
triple agreement of 500 between the
United States, Japan and Great Brit
ain was conditional upon a suitable
ratio being found for France and Italy.
Without naval agreement, such as
the 5-5-3 program, Secretary Hughes
pointed out that France would be in
a relative position Of about 8 to 1,
instead of s to IL, as 1t would not
have been long before the United
States, Great Britain and japan each
had over million tons of fighting
craft.
The text of Premier BRANDS reply
to Mr.. Hughes follows:
London, Dec. Is.
my Dear Mr.. Hughes:
"At the moment of my departure
for London, Mr.. Herrick handed me
your friendly telegram in regard to
the difficulties which have arisen in
the naval disarmament commission in
reference to the tonnage of capital
ships which have been asked for by
the French delegation.
"You fear that the maintenance of
this French request may have as its
effect to hinder the agreement be-
tween the five powers.
"The will of the French government
is to do everything which is compat-
ible with the care of the vital inter-
ests of France with view to reconcile
our points of view.
I'm the question Of naval arma-
ment, the pre-occupation of France
is not the offensive point or view,
but uniquely the defensive point of
view.
with regard to the tonnage of cap
ital ships, that Is to say, attacking
ships, which are the most costly.
have given instructions to our dele
gates in the sense which you desire.
l am certain that shall be sustained
by my parliament in this view.
"But so far as the defensive ships
are concerned eight cruisers, torpedo
boats and submarines) 1t would be
impossible for the French government,
without putting itself in contradiction
with the vote of the chambers, to &C
cept reductions corresponding with
those which we accept for capital
ships under this formal reserve, which
you will certainly understand.
"The idea which dominates the
Washington conference is to restrict
naval armaments which are offensive
and costly. But l do not believe that
it is in the program to deny to ma
ton like France, which has a large
extent of coasts and a great number
of distant colonies, the essential
means of defending its communica-
lions and its security.
81 am certain, my dear Mr.. Hughes,
that you will appreciate the effort of
Cancellation which we are making in
order to respond to your request.
II beg ynn to kindly accept my cor
dial remembrance and the ardent wish
which 1 form for the complete and
striking success of the conference over
which you preside with so much au-
thority and brilliancy. BRAND"
M. Sarrant, acting head of the
French delegation, announced to news
paper men that France had accepted
the 1.75 ratio.
"This acceptance" he said, (which
France considers sacrifice, is contin-
gent upon whether or not 1t will call
for similar reduction from Frances
needs concerning submarines and aux
iliary ships. We cannot accept sim.
liar reduction in those"