The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-01-04
Acceptance of France "In Prin-
ciple" Disturbs Program.
Submarine Question Not En-
tireIy Settled by Farley.
SUSPICIOUS OF BRITISH PLANS
Japan and Italy May Join in
General ClamOr.
Naval Experts Finish Work on
Minor Details of Pact.

Washington. Jan. 4.-The naval ex-
perts of the five powers have reached
an agreement upon minor details ,,f
the naval agreement. including the
matter of requirements, methods of
scrapping old ships and standard
measurement of tonnage, it was stated
today by a spokesman for the British
delegation.
Details of the methods agreed upon
were not made public, but will be in
corporated in the naval treaty which
is now in process of completion.
Stormy Sessions Ahead.
Out of tho quietude which has pre-
vailed in the actual negotiations Of
week, sharp differences of opinion
have arisen, which threaten today to
make the closing days of the parley
exceedingly stormy.
All along the line, from submarines
90 Siberia, the conference path shows
signs of becoming rocky. Hopes are
entertained that the conference can
conclude its work within two weeks.
but a long drawn out discussion on
any of the controversial questions yes
to be disposed of will defeat these
hopes.
French Acceptance Vague.
France has signalized her accept
ance of the Root proposal to outlaw
submarines only in principle. An ac-
ceptance in principle is not regarded
by the British and American leaders
as signifyiLg much else except s. will
| ingness to discuss the matter.
They remember that France also
accepted the whole Hughes program
lin principle on the opening day OF
the conference and then almost
wrecked e.parley six weeks later by
dema nding great increases in her ma
val allotment.
Japan and Italy Eyasiye.
Before France accepts the radical
restrictions which have been proposed
for submarines, she first wants the
conference to settle the question of
what constitutes a merchant ship.
There were strong indications today
that Japan and Italy. who have not
signified any attitude toward the Root
proposals, will also demand that the
powers define merchant craft.
! French insistence that merchant
ships be defined in concrete terms is
based upon the assertions here of off
| cial British spokesmen that Britain In
wartime intends to arm her merchant
craft regardless of the restrictions that
are imposed upon uses OF undersea
craft.
Fear British Policy.
If this policy were carried out by
Great Britain, the whole vast British
merchant fleet would in wartime. be
instantly turned into what the French
claim would really be auxiliary
cruisers.
| Are submarines to be prevented
/ from attacking such ships, the French
ask, and does not the planting OF guns
| on merchant ships take them out OF
the classification of merchant vessels
] 1t was predicted today that warm
| debate on these questions may pre-
cede any final settlement of the sub
marine controversy. If submarines
are to be made outlaws and pirates OF
| the sea as Great Britain demands.
then France will insist upon commer-
cial vessels being kept as merchant
vessels and not as auxiliary cruisers.
Sub Only Obstacle Now.
| The submarine was the only obsta-
/ Gle of any size remaining today In the
way of the five-powered naval treaty.
/ The drafting experts have practically
| finished their work on the document
4 and 1T awaits only the submarine de-
/ cision.
Elsewhere there are clouds on the
| conference horizon. After nearly
| three weeks of complete quiet and
/ lack of contact, the Chinese delegates
are becoming rest.ve. They fear that
| the conference will take a hasty a5-
joprnment without ironing out their
J differences, or else the questions that
/ are All important 10 lneIIls f1ke Of8n-
tung and the twenty-one demands,
/ will be lost in the last minute shuttle.
l. They fatty charge the japanese
with delaying the game and the good
Offices of Secretary of State Hughes
and A. J. Balfour have again been
| sought to bring the Japanese into line.
Siberian Question Looms Big.
The Siberian question, the last on
the conference program, has grown to
mountainous proportions as a result
CT the disclosures made here by the
delegates from the Far East republic,
| concerning the alleged secret agree
Tnent between France and Japan.
which would allow Japan to dominete
this vast Russian territory.
While the matter has been officially
settled for the time being. by the in
dignant denials of the French and the
| japanese. the revelations made by the
Chita delegates loom large in the con-
ference background and threaten to
inject some sharp negotiating into the
proceedings when the Siberia question
Is reached. Charges of japanese in
| trigue in Siberia backed up by docu-
ments that have an appearance OF
some degree, at least of authenticity
have been shelved but not forgotten
Athletes tn Train at Eagle Pass.
Eagle Pass. Tex. Jan. 4.-Accord-