Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-25
Rome and Paris Groups Meet
to Outline Policies to Be
Presented Later at CoIIab-
orative Session.
CONCESSIONS EXPECTED
TO BRING AGREEMENT
Americans Believe Entirely New
Deal in Mediterranean, Includ-
ing Possibility of Security Pacts
With Other Nations, Are Being
Debated by Two Powers.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
LONDON, January 25.-The
French and Italian Naval Confer
ence delegations in separate private
conferences this forenoon outlined
policies to be presented later to-
day in an important collaborative
session at which the problem of
parity between the two neighbors
was to be considered.
italian circles said they were
still hopeful some arrangement
might be reached by which France
would be given such securities as
to make her willing to accept the
italian principle of naval parity
with any European continental
power Members of the French
delegation also expressed hope a
solution of the problem-which
has come to overshadow all others
of the conference - would be
found.
There was, however, no indication
either intended to recede from their
former adamant positions, in which
Italy demanded naval parity with any
continental power. and France as in
sistently refused it.
Sees Progress Achieved.
A French spokesman manifested sat-
isfaction that progress had been
achieved in the weeks. negotiations
otherwise, particularly with Great Brit
ain In the matter of compromise
system Of measuring naval tonnage.
Frances contention Is for limitation by
global tonnage. whereby each nation
would be allotted to total tonnage to do
with as 1t thinks best.
Great Britain favors limitation by
categories. that Is to say. various ships
should be placed In the battleshlp,
cruiser classes and so forth. The Brit
ish contend global limitation Is artlfl-
cial limitation. You fight with guns,
not with displaced water" British naval
men argue.
The Associated Press was informer
authoritatively that the French dele
CATION was greatly impressed with the
spirit of good win to reach q genuine
naval accord which dominated all the
delegations and that they believed this
auglred well for success.
1t was added that France had deter
mined TO contribute to this agreement
BY fixing her naval strength we'll under
her pre-war strength actual figures to
Be determined upon a proportional
basis in accordance with national needs
of the country. The spokesman said
he was convinced that just naval
proportion could be worked out and the
total" or 'global' machinery be built
with each power having its equitable
part therein.
Started on Wrong Foot.
AS to naval parity with Italy, the
French spokesman expressed the opin-
ion that this question had been awk-
wardly introduced by talking of parity
at the outset instead OF respective ma
tional naval needs. It was apparent
that the French continued to hope TO
discover some solution of the Franco
italian naval question. but thus far
they stood pat on their determination
not to grant parity outright.
The Americans, British and japanese
stood by anxious1y today as the nego-
tiations between the two countries pro-
ceeded: virtually all other conference
activity was at a standstill The re-
naming powers were hopeful or good
results. but fully aware of the possible
ties of the situation. The opinion was
expressed In authoritative American
circles that Italy's demand and Frances
refusal embodies at this stage the whole
crux Of the conference.
New Deal Debated.
The general impression among the
Americans was that the Franco-Italian
NEGOTIATIONS were dealing with funda-
mentalist aspects of the relations be-
tween the new French regime headed
BY Andre Tardieu, and the well consid-
cred continental policies of the italian
dictator, Benito Mussolini. It was be-
lieved the discussion went all the way
down the line to actual ship construc-
ton programs.
There were indications also that an
entirely new deal in the Mediterranean
was being debated, including the pos
sibility of a security pact with other
nations. including Spain and Jugoslavia
as participants. The Americans would
net comment on this phase Of the sit
CONTINUED on Page 2, Column 81