Indiana daily times., 1922-01-09
NATIONS WILL
PUT NO LIMIT
ON AIRCRAFT
Five Big Powers Decide Con-
ference Must Keep
Hands Off.
COMMERCIAL USE RULES
BY GEORGE r. HOLMES.

NASHlNGION, Jan. 9.-Ihe nVe great
powers of the Washington conference
definitely decided today not to attempt
any limitation on aircraft.
The report Of the subcommittee. recon-
mending that nothing be done at this
conference because the development OF
military and naval craft was so closely
linked with the development OF com
mercial aviation, was adopted by the
powers.
EXPERTS TO STUDY
AVIATION PROBLEM.
The experts also had recommended that
this conference not attempt to deal with
restrictions governing the use of military
and naval aircraft. but this was in part
disregarded and a commission of tech
nical and legal experts was appointed to
study the question. No date for the ex>
perts to submit their findings was set,
however, and owing to the close approach
OF the end Of the conference, it WIS pre-
dicted that little if anything in the way
Of adopting "humanlzing" rules will be
accomplished in Washington
NAVAL TREATY LEAVES
HANDS OF EXPERTS.
The fve-powered naval treaty, en-
bodying all the limitation decisions which
have been made here, finally left the
hands of the drafting experts today, and
copies were furnished to the various del
egations for study and perusal.
The completed draft will be taken up
tomorrow, when the full committee meets
again, and it is expected that n number
Of changes viii be suggested by the diff
ferent powers. 1t was predicted that at
least two days will be required for dis
cussion Of the treaty before plenary
session can be called to publish it Off
ciaIly to the world.
HOPE PRESENT WEEK
LAST OF FARLEY.
The armament conference embarked on
what many of the delegates believe and
hope will be the last week of the long
parley.
Unless unforeseen contingencies arise
to delay matters the majority Of the
statesmen consider that by the end Of
the week all Of the major problems Of the
conference will either have been settled or
will be IN such shape as to permit their
departure from Washington, leaving the
"mopping up" 10 be done By q council
Of ambassadors.
The fye-powered naval treaty, a pos
sible eight or nine-pOwered treaty affect
Ing China, and a declaration concerning
Siberia are the three outstanding mat
ters t. be accomplished a the conference
swings into its third month.
NAVAL TREATY
Is COMPLETED.
The naval treaty is drawn and vir-
tually ready for presentation to the
powers. The naval experts worked most
Of Sunday to whip it into shape and Il
may be presented at today's session.
The immediate business before the full
committee when IT met in the Pan Amer
lean building was the experts recommen-
dations against the conference adopting
VI. 10
velopment or operation Of aircraft.
This report probably will be accepted,
with but minor exceptions. Having
adopted "humanizlng' restrictions on
submarines and gas, some Of the
delegates feel similar action should be
taken with regard TO aircraft.
Consideration OF the naval treaty like
Is viii consume several days, and It may
il long drawn out, defeat the hopes
Of the chief conference figures Of whiting
Qp this week.
ASK DEFINITION
or MERCHANT SHIP.
Both France and Italy, with an eye
to Great Brtain's vast merchant fleet
ana the possibility Of the quick con-
version OF merchant vessels Into war
craft, want the naval treaty 70 define
what constitutes a merchant ship.
Official spokesmen for the British dele
cation have announced that never again,
while submarines are permitted to roam
he seas, will Britain send her merchant
men to sea unarmed. An armed mer-
chant vessel constitutes an auxiliary
naval vessel, according to the opinions
held by the experts Of other countries.
It likely his issue will provide some
spirited debate when the conference gets
down TO considering the treaty section
by section