The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-02-02
Washington Negotiations for
Limitation of Armament
Reached Their Consum-
nation Yesterday.
(ey The Associated Press)


ington negotiations for limitation of
armament reached their consumma-
tion today when a plenary session of
the arms conference gave definite and
public approval to the two treaties
limiting nayies and restricting the use
of new agencies of warfare.
One of the covenants thus sealed
after eleven weeks of debate estab-
fishes a fixed ratio of capital ship
ers, and the other pledges them
against unrestricted submarine war
fare and use of poison gas. Within a
day or two the plenipotentiaries of the
United States, Great Britain, Japan,
France and Italy will formally affix
their signatures.
At the same session, the far eastern
wing OF the conference moved forward
toward completion of it's tasks by an
nounang officially the terms of the
ShanLung settlement and by giving
final approval to nine of the resolu-
tioni adopted in committee in regard
to Chinese problems. The agreement
on Shantung already has been put into
drssft treaty between Japan and
China, and the other far eastern set
Elements are to be embodied in at least
two general conventions which viii
come before the conference shortly
AS soon as Japan's intention to
withdraw from Shantung had been
definitely stated, the British an
nounced formally for the first time
that their government was ready TO
hand back 10 China the lease-hold of
Wei Hal Wei. The French let it be
known tonight, however, that they ex-
pected to treat directly with China
over possible retirement from their
leased territory at Kwangchow Wan,
a decision which appeared to becloud
the prospect of any general conference.
Iagreement regarding the Chinese
leased territories.
Two other conference projects, one
relating TO the Chinese eastern railway
land the other to the prohibition of inn
portation of arms into China, also en-
countered serious obstacles when the
committees work of the delegates were
resumed late today. The japanese
made some technical objections to the
Chinese eastern proposal, which,
position to some features, resulted in
appointment of a Japanese French
Chinese subcommittee to consider a
COMPROMISE The Italians and Japa
neses presented such pertinent reserVa-
tions to the arms Importation resolu-
tion that it was virtually decided not
TO press it for adoption.
The five power naval limitation
treaty. whose text was made public
for the first time with its submission
to tooay's plenary session, contained
no surprises and was approved by the
conference without general discussion,
it's terms which had been completely
forecast by published accounts of the
negotiations provide for a 5-5-3-1.6-.6 9
capital ship ratio for the United
States, Great Britain, Japan, France,
and Italy, respectively. impose various
restrictions on the size and armament
of other types of warcraft, and estab-I j
nsh Qualifications status quo" in
the Pacific.
In the separate submarine and
poison gas treaty an attempt is made
to OUTLAW submarines as commerce
destroyers and to prohibit chemical
warfare altogether. The language Of
the convention follows almost exactly
the terms Of the Root resolution
adopted by the avmaments COMMITTEES
several weeks ago
Secretary Hughes pres entea he
naval iimita tion treaty to the confer-
ence and. in speech OF forty min
utes. explained Its provisions and de-
clared 1t preserved without vital
change the American limitation pro-
posal laid before the opening meeting
of the conference by him on Novem-
Der IL. He was followed by Albert
Sarraut, head OF the French delega-
ton. who disclaimed for his country
the mtlitaristic purposes he said had
been attributed to it during the Wash
!sngton negotiations, and then the roll
OF the five powers was called and
unanimous approval Of the treaty Civ
en- by mods of the head all round the
table.
The submarine and poison gas
treaty was read by Elihu Root, author
of the proposal on which it was based,
The covenant, he said, must rest for
fulfiIlment upon the humane public
opinion of the world. which he trusted
to overthrow the predictions of sthe
Continued on PAGE Two1