Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-20
Possibility That Washington
Treaty Will Be Scrapped
and New Accord Substi-
tuted at London Is Seen.
GERMANY MAY BE ASKED
TO ENTER AGREEMENT
Fears France Would Insist Upon
Freedom of Seas Discussion or
Rome and Paris Would Find
Views Wholly at Odds Are Be-
lieved Dispelled.
BY BYRON PRICE,
Associated Press STAFF Correspondent.

Associated Press STAFF Correspondent
LONDON, January 20.-Heart-
ened against manifest dangers by
firm handclasps and face-to-face
consultations, slookesmen OF the
1--WE sea powers today completed
in an atmosphere Of tense ex-
pectancy, preparations for con-
yening tomorrow of their history
making conference on limitation
of ships of war.
While the round of busy ex-
changes continued privately and
negotiations entered their first
public phase with summoning OF
all delegates to a meeting at No.
10 Downing street, and later to a
reception by King George, events
cast into clearer relief hourly the
prospective viewpoints OF every
participant.
It became evident that the Americans
were ready to give practical application
to President Hoover's desire TO reauce 70
the lowest possible Levers ana atsEosn
was believed in conference circles the
federation might take the lead with q
far-reaching offer to extend the naval
holiday on capital ships, reduce their
size and reduce the battleships' strength
eventually below the level OF the wash
ington treaty.
Plan Believed Acceptable.
There was every indication such
step would be acceptapie 10 GreaI DiHs
ain. japan, France and Italy. MOST OF
the delegates were confident, at least
outwardly. as to obstacles which, IT was
feared. france and Italy might ifiter-
pose on other phases OF the negotia-
tons. 81.
Col. Henry l.. Stimson, Secretary .oi
State and head OF the American oeie-
cation, conferred with Andre Tardieu,
french premier, and Dino Grandi, Ital-
ian foreign minister, was reiterated to-
day on every side, although no one gave
the impression that he felt all the rough
places in the way of the conference nao
been smoothed yet.
Actual attainment of parity between
tn, American and the British navles
remained one Of the big problems 70
WHICH Lite aGlCkdbAO1Ao Va bOoAA
attached the highest Importance. Parity
seemed likely to have its place as the
corner stone of the entire conference
program.
Cruisers Main Problem.
The principal diflculty lay in COM
putting the exact cruiser strength OF the
two riavies. The problem was still I'M
solved and there was no evidence OF
progress in that respect since the Amer
leans arrived Friday.
Several new suggestions were stirring
today amid the diplomatic gossip on
the conference eve. One OF these was
the possibility that the Washington
treaty virtually would be strapped and
a new accord substituted revising Tor
long term of years the ratios OF all cate
gories of ships.
be invited to participate In any naval
agreement, in view of her program OF
building cruisers. Under the treaty OF
Versailles German warcraft are limited
to l0000-ton types, but her naval en-
gineers have evolved ship within that
limitation having gun power ano
cruising radius far exceeding cruisers OF
any other nation.
France particularly has looked upon
the possibility of inviting German par
ticipation in an agreement with ex-
trerle curiosity, but, although the con-
ference might take cognizance OF the
suggestion, it lacks official sanction at
the present stage.
Much of the optimism so freely ex.
pressed on every hand today appeared
10 have its origin in assurances given
by the French and Italians after
their week end conferences with Col.
Etimson.
Happy Atmosphere Created.
M. Tardieu yesterday described his
conversation with the American Sec
rotary of State as engendering a very
happy atmosphere for the beginning
of the five-power negotiations. He
warned. however, that the conference
tasks were just beginning and that too
much should not be expected by the
public.
Dino Grand, the Italian foreign
minister, said his first meeting with
Col Stimson had been a very great
pleasure and that they talked az
length together and aScertained with
great satisfaction that our two delega-
tons are animated by identical spirits
and have the same confidence in the
success Of the conference"
These assurances were believed
largely to have dispelled fears France
would insist upon injecting such sub
JBCLS dS 4ICGUuiu u bAlC bSdS lliIO JLlC
discussions, or that Italy would find
her viewpoint and demands wholly ir-
reconcilable with those of her neigh
Dor, France. The French themselves
did not entirely share this feeling, in
dicating grave concern lest the Italian
demand for parity with France would
become a serious stumbling block In
the path of the conference.
Col Stin1son yesterday brought an.
other of the conference figures into the
limelight. He took Ambassador Morrow
with him to call on MN. Tardieu and
BRAND. Mr. Morrow made an enyiablt
:, reputation as negotiator in Mexico City
and It seemed certain the Franco.
American discussions would rest on hi
shoulders. He probably also will b
asked to bring his powers into play II
other delicate conversations as the con
ference progresses.
while the meeting Of the French ars
!. Continued on Page Q, Column 81