Arizona republican., 1922-02-02
Of
FIVE POWERS
RATIO
Of BIG SHIPS
Conference Pledges Big
Powers Against Unre-
stricted Submarine War
fare And Poison Gas
TRepubIIcan a. p. Leased WIre1

TRepubllcan A. p. Leased Wire1
WASHINGTON, Feb. l.. - Tho
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 nayies and re-
stricting use Of the new agencies OK
warfare.
One covenant thus sealed after II
weeks of debate establishes a fixed
ratio OF capital ship strength between
the five great powers. and the other
pledges them against unrestricted
submarine warfare and use of poison
gas. Within a day or two the pleni-
potentiaries of the United States.
Great Britain. Japan, France and
Italy will formally affix their sigma
lures.
At the same session the Far East
ern wing of the conference announced
officially the terms of the Shantung
settlement and gave final approval
to nine of the resolutions adopted in
committee in regard to Chinese prob
lens. The agreement OH Shantung
already has been put into a draft
treaty between Japan and China and
the other Far Eastern settlements are
to be embodied in at least two gem
eral conventions which will come be-
fore tho conference shortly.
When Japan's intentions to with
draw from Shantung has been DEF
ipitely stated, the British announced
formally for the first time that their
! government was ready to hand back
70 China the leasehold of Wei Hai-
/ Wei. The French let It be known
/ tonight, however. that they expected
TO treat directly with China over
| possible retirement from their leased
territory at Kwang Chow Wan, a de-
cision which appeared 10 becloud the
prospect Of any general conference
agreement regarding Chinese leased
territories.
Encounter Obstacles
Two other conference projects. ono
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 OF the
delegates was resumed today. The
Japanese made some technical obJec-
tions to the Chinese Eastern propo-
sal which. coupled with Chinese and
French opposition TO some features,
resulted in appointment OF Japa-
nese French Chinese sub committee
To GOlElORT Il GOAllJiOMAHFs AMI
Italians and Japanese presented such
pertinent reservations to the arms
impol tation resolution that 1t was
virtually decided not to press 1t for
adoption.
The five power naval limitation
treaty, whose text was made public
for the first time with its submission
10 today's plenary session, contained
no surprises and was approved by
the conference without general dis
cussion. It's terms, which had been
completely forecast by published ac-
counts OF tho negotiations, provide
for a 5-5-3-16 6-1.6 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
war craft and establish a fortifica-
tions 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. The language Of the con-
vention follows almost exactly the
terms of the Root resolutions recent
ly adopted by the armament COM
mittee.
Secretary Hughes presented tho
naval treaty lO lue NpilAtithNt AlNA
explained its provisions and declared
II preserved without vital change the
American limitation proposal laid
before the opening meeting OF the
conference by him Nov. u. lie was
followed by Albert Sarraut, head OF
the French delegation, who dis
claimed for his country the militia
ristic purposes he said had been at
tributed 10 it during the Washington
negotiations and then the roll of the
five powers was called and unani-
nous approval OF the treaty given by
mods Of the head all around the table.
Outlaw Subs and Gas
The submarine and poison gas
treaty was read by Elihu Root au-
thor of the proposals on which 10 was
based. The covenant. he said. must
rest for fulfilment upon the humane
public opionion of the world, which
he trusted to overthrow the predic-
tions of "tho cynical" that the rules
laid down would be violated when
ever any power I'm the future found
itself with it's back against the wall.
The only other speech before the
formal vote of approval was made
by Senator Schanzer for Italy and
voiced general approval of the two
treaties.
that the Far Eastern resolutions
were adopted and the big crowd that
had iammed into Continental hall TO
see the first plenary session since
Dec. 10. showed many signs OF mat
tention long before the three and a
half hours occupied by the meeting
had elapsed BY the hour Of adjourn
ment there were empty seats in tho
galleries.
Nine Chinese Resolutions
Secretary Hughes. as chairman.
read into the record the nine Chinese
resolutions. hurry through their in
yolycd phraseology i'm a monotone
like that of reading clerks i'm lcgis-
IatiVe bodies. When he has finished
one Of the resolutions. he announced
he assent Of the United States and
then called thc names OF the other
powers about The table. Each dele