Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-12
PRESIDENT is HOPEFUL.
General Agreement to Confer on
Navies Is Expected.

The belief is held by President
Coolidge that all the naval powers
signatory to the Washington capital
ship limitation treaty will look with
favor upon his proposal to extend that
treaty to lighter fighting craft.
That Great Britain and Japan were
favorably impressed with the over
lures has been indicated in press ad-
vices from London and Toxic. Official
comment has still to come from Italy.
The basis for Mr.. Coolidge's eXpec-
tation of favorable consideration is eX-
planned at the White House as the
reasonableness of the American plan;
because II proposes merely an eXten-
sion of the disarmament formula al
ready agreed upon by the Washington
treaty powers.
Offers Means of Escape.
The President feels his proposal Of
fers a means of escape from the dead
lock in the Geneva preparatory dis
armament conference resulting from
q disagreement as to which branch of
armament should first be tackled in a
plan calling for curtailment Of air.
land and sea forces
He also believes if the Geneva dele
cations are successful In applying re-
ductions to cruisers. destroyers and
submarines, as was done with capital
ships in the 1921 Washington confer
ence, removal of this angle OF the
problem would pav9 the way for
agreements in other directions.
Official attention. however, Is being
turned particularly to Paris because
OF the belief that the success of any
further five-power naval limitation
discussions depends to large extent
on whether France will modify its
previous stand for discussing all
ornaments and undertake the more
limited negotiations Mr.. Coolidge his
suggested.
Paris View Is Hinted.
Paris comment indicates that the
government decision may be enmeshed
in many precautionary conditions.
A semi-official statement in Paris
indicated the French navy was con
siderably below the quotas fixed al
washington, due principally to loss
OF the dreadnaught France, wrecked
I'm 1922. The airplane carrier tonnage
was still far below the Washington
quota Of $4,000. and il was added that
some of the capital ships counted in
the 1861 present tonnage are ready
for replacement.
Latest Toxic dispa atches said Japan
soon would make a favorable reply
TO the Coolidge suggestions; British
foreign office official announced thai
the general favorab BILE press com.
ment voices both the public and off
cial opinion Of GSeat Britain" while
tive Italian news pers greeted the
proposal with discreet approval, hint
ing that Italy's principal objection is
against a codification of her strength
whion would leave no room for future
change in her status as naval power
League Welcomes Move.
Geneva advices say the opinion ir
League Of Nations circles is that the
proposal has strengthened the
Leagues position on disarmament
The secretariat voices profound salts
faction with 1t.
president Coolidge" said another
League official, NOW has definitely
removed the naval conference from
Washington to Geneva. and more thar
that. he has put new life into the dis
armament preliminaries by agreeing
to accept the 5-5-3 ratio regarding
the United States, Great Britain and
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