Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-12-15
BRITISH HOSTILE
TO new NAVY PACT
"SimiIar Treaty for Big Ships
Remains Bit Of Paper" Is
AdmiraIty's View
"G0NE TOO FAR ALREADY"

"pcciui 'rWeicgS D,eno,rh. ,oryrioti. ,os'
London. Dee. Ii. The American
Suggestions tbat the five big naval Pow.
crS rpc"n'enc for the purpose of linil =
ing construction of war craft Of 10, ,OOn
tons or loss fai To get n favorable re-
cep,l ion from the London Government.
lh" same Powers signed similar
treaty pertaining to larger ships II rc :
rinins mere bit of paper through the
laliure ot two nations TO ratify it.
80 What assurance is there another such
document would nrovc more cffcctive?'
That is the Admira',y's view as inter.
rretnd to the PUBLIC LEDGER core
spundeut yesterday.
1t Is not iniimotcd that Grcat Brit
ain would decline an in, itation TO such
n conference. The tendency hero is to
doubt that invitations viii cycr be
issued unless tho treaties born at the
hrs' limitations gathering are made
Wmrking artnalitics. That attitude of
Gih.inldom may be regarded as a re.
f"rti"n OF tho genera yicw expressed
recently in .evornl London journals
which raised th" question, Have we
not Enn" too tar toward fulfilling the
$'ipl!aatiops Of the Washington agree.
Tho change of sentiment is siSnif-
cant whom It is recalled TIE Govern.
mcnt had tho bulk OF popular opinion
with it when Great Britain announced
u proposed Getting an example by treat
Ing the Washington agreement 10 bind
ing
9TH" treaty 50 far Is null and void.
but th" moment Parliament ratified it
We b"Cau to scrap ships. No other
country followed suit. Japan and tho
nltcd States suspended construction
OF now ships but broke up none that
were not manifcstly obsolete" is tho
complaint in the London journal.
Tn" admiralty is replacing "old but
Nttl! effective vessels that have been
too hastily scrapped," rs ono pnpcr
terms them. with two INV post -Jrt.
landcrs Of $1,000 tong, the contracts
for which have Just bcer awarded
Those costing ft2.3OO. .000 to com.
rIclc within n three year period aId
viii make possible British ,niaintcnarcc
Ut the one power standard. rs no other
,nnltn!' ships arc to be built under The
Washington terms until 1921 save two
by France, one in 1927 and another
ir 1920.
Paris. Doc. 15.--(By 4. P.)--Thc
WASHINGTON naval agreements will bo
submitted to tho French Parliament
tor ratification Immediately after tho
,namber reconveness carly in January,
VI. Raiberti: Minister of Marine. in,
formed Parliament yesterday during
discus sion of the marine budget
''Thc Washington naval nrcor,!I have
nothing 20 10 with the prcscut budoct
discussion, NJ. Ralborti said. "'Chc
Government will submit these arror,ls
for ratification ms soon as Parliament
meets after the Christnlas recess 50
that full and complete debate may bo
instituted upon them
France received square deal Mt the
Washington naval conference 50 far ~
practical results arc concerned. Vice
Admiral Gueprattc. deputy and one
Of Frances most distinguished nnvol
officers in the ate war, told the Cham
bcr ot Deputies.
THE consequences Of the accords
undertaken at Washington are pla-
tonic, inasn,ucb as they prohibit buildr
ing battleships Of moro than $1,000
tons. which owing to the growing An
lortance cf submarines and uirplanes
would ho useless, Le sail.