Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-02-14

PRELIMINARY negotiations among
the naval conferees in London did
not proceed very smoothly. Prime Min
lister Macdonald announced that Great
Britain sought the abolition of sub
marines, and Immediately thereafter
Henry L. Stimson, head of the Ameri
can delegation, made it known that
this position was supported by the
United States and that he would pro-
pose the abolition of underwater war
craft at the plenary session set for
February IL. The French delegation
at once met and examined the ques-
ton and then declared fatty that they
would not consider the proposal. 1t
was understood that Premier Tardieu
at the plenary session would meet it
with a speech in which he would say
that France considers the submarine
as most necessary for the defense of
the French coast though France does
not want 1t as an offensive weapon
and believes that submarine warfare
should be "humanized."
Italy is willing to abolish SUBJ
marines if France will do so, but it in
sists that Italians must have summers
ibles if her northern neighbors have
them. Thus the Italian action will
be governed by the French attitude.
The American delegation made pub
lie its plan for reduction and limita-
ton, stating that it provided for imme-
date parity with Great Britain in ev-
cry class of ship in the navy. Equal
ity in battleships would be secured by
abandonment of five by the British and
three by the Americans. The cruisers
would be so apportioned that the Brit
ish would have an apparent advantage
of 1900 tons, which the Americans
could equalize by including the num-
Der of their smaller cruisers. Critics
of this plan declared 1t was a surren-
der to the demands of the British.
Delegates from the British domin-
ions protested to Mr.. Macdonald that
the conference was making unneces-
sarily slow progress, and he therefore
conferred with the other heads of
delegations and they decided to speed
things up. The first committee, which
includes all the delegates, took up
on Thursday the matter of the method
of limitation, seeking a solution for
the controversy between the global
and categorical methods. London cor
respondents, however, said it was not
likely any real progress would be
made toward fixing tonnage figures
until near the end of the month. This
is due to the fact that the Japanese
have general election on February
90 and the Japanese are staling Wig
orously on the figures until the present
government can get settled in the
saddle or new government formed.
XXTHEN Maj. Gen. Herbert Crosby,
wv chief of cavalry of the United
States army, retires on March 81 next,
he will undertake the task of making
the city of Washington a model for
the rest of the country so far as
liquor and crime are concerned. He
has been selected by President Hoover
" uAACCt tiS pOilCcs uTS anu ITaIIIC
departments of the District of Column
bia, and Mr.. Hoover said the appoint
ment will be guaranty to both the
official and unofficial residents of the
district, and especially to the nation
at large, that the Capital shall be free
of organized crime"
The police affairs of the District of
Columbia have been under fire from
members of congress for the last year
or so. During that time there have
been q wide variety Of charges. inclnd-