The New York herald., 1922-01-12
HITCH ON SCRAPPING
VESSELS INDICATED
Discussions That Experts Of
Powers Are Not. in
Accord.

BY RALrH COURTNEY.


Special Dispatch to THE New YolK HnzALp
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c.. Jan. H.
The heads OF delegations at the arms
conference to-day considered the gen.
eral and political aspects OF the five
Power naval treaty which their experts
and jurists have prepared for their final
approval.
The treaty itself. consisting of some
twenty-five clauses, now waits on the
Japanese delegation. who desired to
refer the question of Pacific fortifica-
tons back to Toxic, and therefore dis
cussion centered on the various annexes.
five in number. dealing with the carry
ing out Of the program Of the interna-
tional holiday.
Despite seven hours work by the
chiefs Of the American, British. Japa-
nese, French and Italian delegations
only one small section OF the treaty an
mex was finally disposed of.
( The present discussion >Jetween the
heads of the delegations is revealing
that they are not always In agreement
with their experts. The result has been
good deal OF delay at the meetings and
1t already Is foreseen that several dele
cations besides the Japanese will have
to refer questions back to their Govern
ments.
During to-day's session a Fundamental
difference Of opinion arose concerning
the methods OF scrapping old vessels
and the permissible ways Of utilizing
them after the ends OF their careers as
war vessels.
On behalf Of the American Govern
ment Mr.. Hughes is understood to have
- H. xlo& <%F h<
discarded ships as possible should be
destroyed He based his argument On
the fact that public opinion called for
real action and would not feel content
II warships were merely transformed
for other uses.
The American attitude Is that .ht
more Of these old vessels that can be
demolished the better. The French
having very little scrapping to do theJn-
selves, sided entirely with America. An
other delegation Is understood 20 have
made proposals which were received
with reserve by the conference and the
discussion of this point will be continued
tomorrow.
| At the conference to-day Japan al.
lowed It to be known that she could sot
expect her reply from Toxic about the
treaty, before Saturday. In consequence
of this no plenary session to mark the
end of the naval negotiations Is expected
before next week.
Although 1t Is admitted in American
quarters that several delegations, ever
the American, may need further con-
situations with their Governments or ex'
pcrts on naval questions. 1t is said nc
definite move of any kind has yet beer
made that would appear to be dictated
by delaying tactics on the part OF any
delegation.
The American delegation allows it tt
be understood tonight that II, as re
ported from Cannes, the French after
discussion with the British should de-
eide to reduce their submarine quota tt
the amount of 31.5o0 tons offered II
washington, instead of the 10000 tons
they now demand, the way will be oper
to them to do so until the end of the
conference. te
When questioned on this point this
evening NJ. Sarraut said he could moi
say what the Paris Government would
do. but so far as he was concerned he
would, on any attempt to repeal the
submarine issue, again make the same
demand based on the same arguments
of French needs.
In French delegation quarters the
statement is made, however, that France
| would have to have some very potent
reason to consider revision Of the
submarine figure she demanded ir
Washington.
An American spokesman tonight
stated the progress being made in the
discussion Of the naval treaty was
excellent and that when the treat,
finally came up for review there woult
be no antiquities; everything. including
the "region of the Pacific" and "Japal
proper" would be carefully defined.