New Britain herald., 1927-02-12
Coolidge Is Hopeful

lief is held by President Coolidge that the naval powers signatory to the Washington capital ship limita- ton treaty will look with favor upon his proposal to extend that treaty to lighter fighting craft. although officials are somewhat skeptical over the attitude France might take.
 That Great Britain and Japan were favorably impressed with the overtures Is indicated in press ad- vices from London and Tokyo. O1l- cial comment has still to come from Italy. although newspapers are spec ulating there on the Rome attitude'
 The basis for Mr. Coolidge's ex- nectation of favorable consideration is explained at the White House as the reasonableness Of the American plan: because it proposes merely an extension of the disarmament form 1lla already agreed upon by the Washington treaty powers.
 Escape From Deadlock
 The president feels his proposal offers a means of escape from the deadlock in the Geneva preparatory disarmament conference resulting from disagreement as to which branch of the armament should first be tackled in plan calling for cur tailment of air. land and set forces He also believes if the Geneva dele cations are successful in applying reductions to cruisers, destroyers ana submarines, as were done with cap jtal ships in the 1921 Washington conference. removal of this angle or the problem would pave the way for agreements in other directions.
 Official attention, however. is be- ing turned particularly to Paris De- cause of the belief that the success of any further five-power naval lim- tiation discussions depends to large extent on whether France will modify it's previous stand for dis cussing all ornaments and under take the more limited negotiations MT Coolidge has suggested.
 The Paris attitude is described as being opposed to the American plan, as now understood. with newspaper comment indicating a government decision either openly unfavorable or enmeshed in so many precaution- ary conditions as to make it ditfl- cult to dovetail with the Coolidge idea.
 Semi Official Statement
 A semi official statement in Paris indicated the French navy was con- siderably below the quotas fixed at Washington. due principally to loss of the drcadnauSht France wreck ed in 1922. The airplane carrier tonnage was still far below the Washington quota of 60,000 and it was added that some of the capital ships counted in the 195,000 present tonnage are ready for replacement.
 Latest Tokyo dispatches said Japan soon would make favorable reply to the Coolidge suggestion; British foreign office official an- nounced that the general favorable press comment voices both the pub lie and official opinion of Great Britain" while two Italian newspa- pers. the only ones to discuss the matter. greeted the proposal with discreet approval limiting that Italy's principal objection is against a codifcation of her strength which | would leave no room for future change in her status as a naval power.
 Geneva Advices
 Geneva advices say the opinion in league of nations circles is that the proposal has strengthened the leagues position on disarmament l The secretariat voices profound sat- { isfaction with it.
 "President Coolidge,' said an ' other league official. now has definitely removed the naval confer ence from Washington to Geneva, and more than that, he has put new life into the disarmament prelimin- , aries by agreeing to accept the 5-5-3 ratio regarding the United States, Great Britain and Japan for cruisers, torpedo boats and submarines"
 Berlin and Ottawa overnight dis , patches also carried tributes on the | plan, while in Washington. Chair | man Butler of the house naval com- mittee. estimated that if the 5-5-S | ratio were extended. to the light ! cruisers. Great Britain would have . to scrap POT. 900 tons and Japan 30,- coo. If the United States agrees to 1 q 5-5-S ratio on all classes of ships, he said, it would be necessary to | construct q light cruisers. one air- rlane carrier lq Suhma arincS of .