Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1922-01-04
STORM CLOUDS
GATHER ABOUT
ARMS FARLEY
Acceptance in Principle by
France Regarded as
InSincere.
SHARP DISPUTES ARISE
BY GEORGE R. HOLMES.


WASHINGTON, Jan. 4.-Out of the
quietude which has prevailed IN the ac-
tual negotiations of the armament con
ference for the last week, sharp differ
ences of opinion have arisen which
threaten today to make the closing days
of the parley exceedingly stormy.
Al lalong the line, from submarines to
Sibiria, 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 yet to be disposed of will de-
feat these hopes.
France has signalized her acceptance
of the Root proposal to outlaw subma-
rines only in principle. An acceptance
in principle is not regarded by the Brit
ish and American as signifying much
else than a willingness to discuss the
matter.
They remember France also accepted
the whole Hughes program "in principle
on the opening day of the conference
and then almost wrecked the parley SIX
weeks later by demanding great increases
in her naval allotment.
Before France accepts the radical re
strictions which have been proposed for
submarines she first wishes the confer
enee to settle the question of what con
stitutes a merchant ship. There were
strong indications today that Japan and
Italy, who have not signifed any atti-
tude toward the Root proposals, also will
demand the powers to define merchant
craft.
French insistenee that merchant ships
be defined in concrete terms is based on
the assertions here of official British
spokesman that Britain, in wartime, in
tends to arm her merchant craft, re
gardless of the restrictions tina tare i'm
posed on uses of undersea craft.
If this policy were carried out by
Great Britain, the whole vast British
merchant fleet would, in wartime, be in
stantly turned into what the French as
sert really would be auxiliary cruisers.
Are submarines to be prevented from
attacking such ships, the French ask, and
does not the planting of guns on mer-
chant ships take them out Of the classii-
cation of merchant vessels?
HOT DEBATE
Is LIKELY.
1t was predicted n warm debate on
these questions may precede any final
settlement of the submarine controversy.
If submarines are to be made outlaws
and pirates Of the sea. rs Great Britain
demands, France will insist upon com
mercial vessels not being used as auxili-
airy cruisers.
The submarine is the only obstacle re
naming in the way of the five-powered
naval treaty. The drafting experts have
practically finished their work and 1t
awaits only the submarine decision.
Elsewhere there are clouds on the con-
ference horizon After nearly three
cnD,nlata o11jat Lack NJ CON
ACT, the chinese delegates are becoming
f&Ative &They fear the conference will
<&A@shELI adjournment without ironing
Afficulties or else the questions
- 81 s. Ill important to them, Ike
- and the twenty-one demands,
*%4z# lost in rhe last minute shuttle.
57z4sGE TRICKERY
4 n S553APANEsE.
@z#hey fatty charge the Japanese with
&c &aying the game and the good Offices
Secretary of State Hughes and A. J.
Balfour again have been sought to bring
the japanese into line.
The Siberian question, the last on the
conference program, has grown to noun
famous proportions as result Of the dis
closures made here by the delegates from
the Far East republic concerning the
alleged secret agreement between France
and Japan which would allow Japan to
dominate this vast Russian territory.
While the matter has been officially
settled for the time being, by the in
dignant denials Of the French and Jap
apese the revelations made by the Chita
delegates loom large in the conference
background and threaten to inject some
sharp negotiations into the proceedings
when the Siberian question is reached.
Charges of japanese intrigue in Siberia,
backed up by documents that have an ap-
pearance, of some degree at least of au
thenticity, have been shelyed but not for
gotten,