Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-01-04
Plan OF SCRAPP|NG
SHIPS COMPLETED
Naval Experts Ready to Report.
agreement on S Per Cent
Chinese Tariff Basis
FRANCE HELPS ROOT PLAN
BY the Associated Press

Washinpton, Jan. 4.--Practical COM
pletfon Of the report to he submitted by
the committee of naval experts to the
Naval Committee Of the Armament
Conference and agreement Of the Sub.
Committee on Chinese Tariff on j nCr
cent effective basis were two important
developments today in the Conference
situation.
The Naval Committee may be called
= 20 meet this afternoon or tomorrow. 1t
was said, 60 receive the report Of the
experts, which will embody precise
z definition OF the replacement schedules
nr well as the exact method Of scrapntns
ships which are to be eliminated from
> the navies Of the sicnatcry Powers.
fs While the rate agreed upon by tho
Sub Committee on Chinese Tariff Is the
same as that provided in existing
treaties, the fixing Of 5 per cent az the
''ehectivc" rate Is expccted 10 result IN
clear increase Of approximately 1M
per cent TO the Chinese Government
adverse exchange having reduced the
existing tariff to about 312 per cont.
An important feature Of the naval
experts report will be statement Of
uniform rule for calculation of naval
tonnage. The absence Of such a rule
has led to difficulty in the consideration
OF many features of the limitation plan,
Preparatory to Treaty
Acceptance of the experts report by
that full committee would put these
matters in condition to be Incorporated
In treaty or agreement form and for
ratification at q plenary session.
The most important accomplishment
Of the experts in the opinion of some
delegates was the completion of the
Replacement chart" precisely defining
when each ship or class Of ships may
be regarded az obsolete and subject 10
replacement, the dates upon which the
new keels may be laid, the dates Of
commission and other such details
While not positively stated, il was
understood in British circles that the
French experts had decided to accept
the limitation of 10000 tons as the
maximum size of auxiliary naval ships,
excepting aircraft carriers.
In addition TO the per cent effective
rate, the subcommittee on tariff has
provided for sending an international
commission to study the whole subject
OF Chinese tariff, linking taxes and
other factors with the purpose of ar
ranging for further increase of the
Chinese tariff duties to ~ per cent,
effective at date to be determined.
An international committee composed
OF diplomatic representatives Of the
Powers resident in Pekin Is now sitting
/, in that city and this body will be- ex-
pected to enter negotiations with the
other Powers not represented at the
Washington Conference with a view to
securing adhesion to the new rates of
wtuty.
q Nations not represented in the Wash
T 'gton Conference, but who would be
: yited to membership on the Inter
tional Tariff Commission. would in
Al. lde Germany. Spain and Russia. all
~ which are included in the present
hr,ofif arrangement.
hasb 'bandon United States Proposition
don, he original American proposition to
vHs se the duties TO 1919 per cent has
HE abandoned pending the conclusion
rsshe inquiry to be conducted By the
R@national commission.
An important step toward agreement
sJy the Powers on the American proposal
=. to prohibit use of submarines Ugainst
merchant vessels was seen today in the
proposals acceptance in principle by the
French delegation, subject TO a discus
sion of the precise language Of the dec =
laration.
Although acccptances still are await
ef from Italy and Japan, neither of
these Powers was expected TO make
serious objection II the proposal re-
ceiyed the full approval of France.
The exact nature of the reservations
attached to the French acceptance, as
communicated to Secretary Hughes by
Ambassador Jusserand late yesterday.
had not been revealed.
~ They might concern stipulatiOns to
= govern the conduct of merchantmen
under immunity from submarine at
tack, such as Whether they arc to be
permitted TO arm or run down submer-
sibles, and whether it Is to be permls-
sible to disguise warships as CONNER
cial craft. That phase of the question,
II raised, would probably develop other
ramifications and might result in an
interesting and many sided discussion.
The French acceptance in principle
also embraces the Balfour amendment,
under which the banning Of submarine
operations against merchantmen would
become effective Immediately rs among
the FIVE Powers, and thr additional
Root declaration defining as an act OF
piracy the violation by submarine
commander of the rules Of international
law.
Hopes for nm early wind-up Of the
Far Eastern negotiations when they are
resumed. probably next week. also ap-
peared to have been strengthened today
by Developments in connection with the
Shantung issue.
Definite results we're expected in
many quarters from the action Of the
/ Chinese delegates in personally ap.
preaching Secretary Hughes and Arthur
j. Balfour, in a move 10 break theiI
deadlock with the japanese on tn,
Shantung question and to secure more
direct employment Of the proffercL
'.good Offices of those officials.
& CASTEX QUOTATION
T~VT1N CIV DnTTIHT