Douglas daily dispatch., 1927-02-12
PRESIDENT IS
OPTIMISTIC ON
DISARMAMENT
Coolidge Feels That the
American Proposal Will
Be Accepted

| WASHINGTON, Feb. II B-Presi-
dent Coolidge has every expectations
of favorable consideration by the
washington naval treaty powers OF
, his suggestion for a further ex.
tension Of that treaty through 5.
conference to be held at Geneva
The expectation is based, it was
said today at the White House, up
on the reasonableness of the Amer.
lean proposal and the fact that II
proposes only to apply further &
formula for naval limitation already
worked out and accepted by the
Washington treaty powers. 1t was
emphasized that President Coolidge
does not know specifically what re.
ply will be made by Great Britain,
France, Italy and Japan.
He feels. however that inasmuch
as difficulty has been uncovered dur
ing the Geneva preparatory dis
armament conference as to which
branch of armament should first
be taken up in an effort to formu,
late a comprehensive plan for re-
Gucation Of air, land or sea forces
the American suggestion to proceed
with naval limitation under the
Washington treaty formula affords
IN escape.
If that process should be follow
ed and the delegations of the Wash
i.ington treaty signatories meeting at
Geneva are successful in extending
naval ratio agreements to cruisers,
destroyers and submarines, Presi.
Gent Coolidge feels that the dis
position Of this aspect of the arma-
ment problem would make it easier
to deal with the other elements,
particularly if naval armaments were
considered as having a direct rela-
tion to the land and air armament
questions.
Pending word from some official
quarter as how the four other WASH
ington treaty powers may react to
the American suggestion, made pub
lie yesterday, officials here declined
tc comment upon the first reports
of editorial reception Of the plan in
London, Paris, Rome or Toxic. There
seems little doubt, however, that
official attention is focused parti-
cularly upon Paris as the point from.
which a final answer must come If
the treaty is to be extended as
President Coolidge has suggested.
Heretofore the French delegates at
the Geneva conference have con-
sistently maintained that disarma-
ment programs should be based on
ly upon formulae SO complete as to
include land air and sea forces and
that even such questions as pro,
tcction, man power and economic
resources Of each country must be
considered il their relation to arma-
ment questions
Unless the French government is
willing now to undertake the more
limited negotiations the president
has suggested modifying the posi-
ticns it's delegates maintained at
Geneva Admittedly no supplemental
five power conference to fix ton.
mage limits for auxiliary naval craft
would be possible.
There was much speculation iii
Washington today as to what course
the suggested five power confer
ence proved impossible of realiza
ton.
1T was recalled that the informa!
suggestion from Japanese sources
made at Geneva at the opening of
TIE preparatory conference, contem-
plated a three power supplemental
agreement to limit stonnages on
5-5-3 ratio in cruisers at least be-
tween Great Britain, the United
States and Japan.
In some quarters it was suggested
Continued on rage Eight)