Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-11
France Reluctant in Unofficial
Reports, With Italy More
Sympathetic.
LONDON SEEKS TO AVOID
'ANGLO-SAXON' DICTATI0N
Would Heed Sensibilities of Paris
and Rome-League's Position Is
Brought Into Debate.

BY the Associated Press.
President Coolidges proposal for
further limitation of naval armament
appears to have found the maritime
powers in a receptive mood
First impressions as reflected In
news dispatches from abroad indicate
that the Presidents plan to discuss
the question next month at Geneva
probably will be accepted, but that
specific methods of limitation VIII
have to be left for determination by
the conference itself.
Responsible officials of both the
British and Japanese governments are
quoted as agreeable to discussion OF
the subject broached by the Presi-
dent. but not certain that his sug-
gestion for extension of the 5-5-3
ratio to all classes of warcraft can be
accepted in advance.
France and Italy Wait.
France and Italy, the other two ma
tions to whom the proposal was ad-
dressed, are reserving decision, but
they are not expected here to refuse
TO discuss limitation should the other
powers agree to such discussion.
The Immediately favorable reaction
in London and Toxic apparently did
not surprise officials here. although
they still professed to be without Of
ficial advices. II is the usual thing
to send out informal diplomatic feel
erS whenever a government contem-
plates such a step as that announced
yesterday by Mr.. Coolidge, and to be
more or less certain how the ground
lies before there is any formal nego-
tiation. Whether this was done in
the present case the State Department
will not say.
There seems no doubt, however, that
the project was undertaken with the
fun cognizance of the ranking Ameri-
can diplomats abroad. In addition to
Hugh S. Gibson, who heads the Ameri-
can delegation to Geneva, AnlDa asSadOr
Houghton recently has been in this
country on leave from his post in Lon
don and conferred frequently with
Washington officials.
Approval General Here.
AS a more definite indication of for
eign opinion is awaited, the situation
In Washington remains quiescent.
Most of the leaders in Congress appear
to approve the Presidents proposal.
although their discussions are colored
by some expressions of doubt whether
anything tangible will come out of the
negotiations at Geneva.
Communicated to Congress for their
information, the Presidents views
have been referred to the Senate and
House committees which deal with
matters of foreign policy. The sub
Ject viii be discussed tomorrow by the
House foreign affairs committee, when
1t takes up a proposal to appropriate
SIS 900 to pay the expenses of the
American delegation to Geneva. Some
members indicated today they would
insist that the bill be amended to pro-
vide specifically for carrying out the
Coolidge proposal by stipuIating that
the delegates must take up during
the conference the question of limiting
the smaller classes of warcraft. The
Senate foreign relations committee
does not meet again until next week
Delegates Sail Shortly.
Military and naval advisers attach
ed to the Geneva delegation probably
will sail from New York, February
26, headed by Rear Admiral Hilary
p. Jones and Maj Gen. Dennis
f. Nolan. Mr. Gibson will not get
away until March 2, the last sailing
date that would insure his reaching
Geneva in time for the reopening of
the conference on March 81.
In the event that the other four
signatoTies to the Washington naval
limitation treaty accept the sugges-
tion of President Coolidge. the Ameri-
can naval contingent undoubtedly
will have to be increased materially.
BRITAIN INDORSES PLAN.