The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1922-01-06
FRANCE AGAINST
THE ROOT PLAN
Accepts the Proposal in Principle
Only, Says Paris.
ASKS THOROUGH DISCUSSION
Follows Up Refusal to Agree to Brit
ish Demand for Abolition of SUBJ
marine-Instructions Received
From Home Government.

Washington, Jan. 4.-Following up
their refusal to agree to the British de-
mand for. abolition of the submarine,
the French delegation received in
StructiOns from Paris to stand out
against the Root plan to prevent sub
marine operations against merchant
ships until a number of vital cOllat-
eral questions are cleared up.
The big points in which the French,
as well as the Italians and japanese,
are interested are definition of
merchant ship and arming of merchant
craft.
The final orders came after a series
of exchanges between the delegation
and the home government, in which
the Importance of having the several
other questions involved in the ban on
submarines clarified was emphasized
by Admiral De Bon, naval delegate.
The instructions are to accept the
Root plan Gin principle" only and to
insist upon discussion with a view to
a settlement of the points considered
essential by the French government.
Contention of French.
The French make it plain they are
not seeking to legalize undersea at
tacks on merchant craft. What they
are holding out for is that ships of
war shall not be guaranteed immunity
from submarine attack by assuming
the guise of merchant craft. With the
Italians and Japanese, they also want
1t fixed SO that the naval limitations
and reductions agreed upon here can
not be offset by power with vast
mercantile marine by arming her mer-
chant vessels and operating them as
cruisers, etc.
The French delegation also has re-
ceived instructions as to the proposed
limitation of 10000 tons on the size of
individual auxiliary craft. Details Of
these instructions were withheld, but
it was understood the question of con-
verting merchant vessels into vessels
of war in wartime entered into con- |
sideratiOE.
Secretary Hughes, who had stated
earlier in the day that he had not /
heard whether the French, Italians
and Japanese had received instruc- |
tions from their home governments
on the two questions. was advised that /
the French were ready to go ahead |
with consideration of the subjects. Mr.. i
Hughes said he would call meeting
of the naval committee just as soon |
as he heard from the Italians and
Japanese.
Ship Ratio Unsettled.
The French attitude towards the life /
Of the capital ship ratio agreement, on |
which they entered Il reservation, was
learned. Whereas no time limit is set |
in the original Hughes plan, the
French, who are relegated to the posi-
ton of a fourth class naval power
with capital ship ratio of 1.75, along /
with Italy, as compared to Bob for the /
United States, Great Britain and ia |
pan, want the life of the agreement |
limited to 20 years, and preferably 10.
The four-power Pacific treaty con-
tinued as an outstanding topic at the
capitol and in conference circles. An
official administration view was ex-
pressed that it made no difference
from general political view whether
or not the pact included the Japanese
homeland. The question of whether
the inclusion of Japan shall be elfmi-
mated still is pending.
To the already long list Of reserva-
lions to the pact which senators al
ready had prepared a new one was
added. 1t relates to the Philippines
and is intended to bestow independ
ence upon the islands. with an addi-
tional pledge by the signers of the
Horsepower treaty that they will let
the Philippines alone.