Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-28
London Pact Then Will Be
Expanded Into Five-PoWer
Agreement.
U. S. READY TO ACCEPT
PROPOSED SETTLEMENT
Warship Building Holiday Until
1885 for Italy and France to
Result From Accord.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
ROME. February 28-Great Britain
and Italy today reached an accord in
principle for the settlement of all naval
problems left pending by the London
Conference of last year.
The accord will be submitted to the
French foreign minister. Aristide BRAND,
In Paris tomorrow, and If he accepts 1t
flve-power treaty carrying limitation
of all categories of naval tonnage will
emerge. Inasmuch as Foreign Minister
Arthur Henderson of Great Britain had
already reached an agreement in prin-
ciple with the French before initiating
the conversations here, M Brands ac-
| ceptance OF the British-Italian accord
was expected almost as a matter OF
| course
Mr.. Henderson himself was so hopeful
that he said a complete solution of the
differences between France and Italy
would be reached in Paris "if the talks
there are as satisfactory as they have
been here"
On Way to Paris.
He left for Paris. with A. v. Alexan-
der, first lord OF the admiralty, and
British admiralty experts, two hours
| after the negotiations had been fin
ished. and hopes tomorrow afternoon TO
obtain full agreement with the French
When that Is accomplished the text OF
the new accord will be submitted to the
governments OF the United States
Japan and the British dominions sigma
tory to the tripartite treaty of London
| for their final approval and the elsbo-
ration Of f1ve-poWer limitation docu-
ment.
Negotiations which led to the accord
have been carried on here for the past
three days. largely by admiralty experts,
following similar negotiations in Paris
where all but the final details we're
ironed out. Yesterday Premier Mus
solini himself took over italian direc-
| ton OF the conversations and This
morning gave his approval to the agree
n1ent. Then brief joint communique
WAS issued 1t read: s.
AS the result of friendly CONVERSE
tions, carried on in q spirit OF cordial
collaboration. which the ministers, Hen
derson and Alexander, have had in the
last few days with the head of the
government and with Ministers Grandi
and Sirianni. an accord has been
which remained in suspense after the
London Naval Conference.
Must Get French O. X.
The terms of the project must still
be submitted to the French government,
and Ministers Henderson and Alexan-
der leave for Paris today for this ptIr-
pose. II the French government agrees
the proposals will be submitted TO the
governments Of the United States
Japan, Great Britain and the British
COMMONS who were represented at the
Naval Conference in London"
II today's accord is accepted by the
French and written into the blank
spaces OF the London treaty, 1t will
settle. at least until 1885, long-standinp
differences between France and Italy
over the relative size OF their fleets
The italian contention has been that
italy must have parity with France
because Of her locked" position In the
Mediterranean while the French de-
msnded additional tonnage for Atlantic
and colonial waters.
Political Aspects Vital.
Details of the arrangement we're not
made public today but in Italian circles
IT was said that the political aspects
as well as the naval, were of high i'm :
portance to Italy.
The fact that Italy had neen treated
on an equality with France IN every
| diplomatic sense and that the British
ministers came here in such a cordial
spirit greatly pleased Italians generally
The matter OF Italian prestige has been
uppermost in the minds OF the people
during the naval neg tiations and il
was taken for granted today that the
solution reached was on a basis salts
flying Italy's stand for virtual parity.
BRAND is OPTIMISTIC