The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-02-02
By Associated Pr..ss

Washington, February 1.-The Washington negotiations for limita- ton of armament reached their con- summation today when a plenary session of the arms conference gave definite and public approval to the two treaties limiting navies and re- stricting the use of new agencies of warfare.
 One of the covenants thus seaI-
 ed after eleven weeks of debate
 establishes, q fixed ratio of can't
 tai snip uength between the i've
 great powers, and the other
 pledges them against unrestrict-
 ed submarine warfare and use of
 olson gas- Within n day or i've
 the pienipotentiarie8 of the Unit
 ed States, Great Britain, Japan,
 France and Italy will formally
 affix their signatures.
 At the same session, the far east ern wing of the conference moved forward toward completion of it's task before announcing officially the terms of the Shantung settlement and by giving final approval to nine of the resolutions adopted in regard to Chinese problems. The agreement on Shantung already has been put into draft treaty between Japan and China and the other far eastern settlements are to be embodied in at least two general conventions which Will come before the conference shortly.
 To Give Up LeasehoId.
 As soon as Japan's intention to withdraw from Shantung had been definitely stated the British announc- ed formally for the first time that their government was ready to hand back to China the leasehold of Wei 1tai-Wei. The French let it be known, however, that they expected to treat directly with China over possible retirement from their leased territory at Kiwangchow Wan. de- cision which appeared to becloud the prospect of any general confer ence agreement regarding the Chi nese leased territories
 Two other conference projects, one relating to the Chinese Eastern rail- way and the other to the prohibition of importation of arms into China also encountered serious obstacles when the committee work or the delegates was resuraed late today. Ths Japanese made some technical objections to the Chinese eastern proposal which, coupled with Chinese and French opposition to some rea- lures, resulted in appointment of a Japanese French Chinese subcom- mittee to consider a compromise. The Italians and Japanese presented such pertinent reserves that 1t was virtually decided not to press it for adoption.
 Pact Quickly Approved.
 The five power naval limitation treaty, whose text was made public for the first time today, contained no surprises and was approved by the conference without general discus sion. Its terms which had been com pletely forecast by published ac- counts of the negotiations provide for a 5-5-3-1.6-16 capital ship ratio for the United States, Great Britain Japan, France and Italy. respectively impose various restrictions on the size and armament of the other types of warcraft, and establish a fortifi- cations status quo" in the Pacific.
 In the separate submarine ano poison gas treaty an attempt is made to outlaw submarines as commerce destroyers and to prohibit chemica warfare altogether. The language o, the convention follows almost exactl, the terms of the Root resolutions adopted by the armament committed several weeks ago.
 Secretary Hughes presented ths naval limitation treaty to the confer erce and in a speech of 40 minutes explained it's provisions and declar ed it preserved. without vital change the American limitation proposal laic before the opening meeting of the conference by him on November 12 He was followed by Albert Sarraut head of the French delegation. whs disclaimed for his country the mili- taristic purposes he said had been at tributed to it during the Washington negotiations, and then the roll of ths five powers was called and unani- nous approval of the treaty given b5 the mods of the head all around tht table.
 Up to Public Opinion
 The submarine and poison ga: treaty was read by Elihu Root, au- thor of the proposals on which it was based The covenant, he said, mus rest for fulfilment upon the humane ,,4,blic opinion of the world, which he trusted to overthrow the predic tons of "the cynical" that rules lais down would be violated whenever an,
 scs.tinued on Page Ten.)