NAVAL PROBLEM.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 December 1921, Page 5

NAVAL PROBLEM.

FRANCE AND THE RATIO. ACCEPTANCE REPORTED. SUBMARINE DIFFICULTY. (From the Special Correspondent of the Australian Press Association.) Received Dee. 20, 9.25 p.m. Washington, Dee. 19. Well authenticated reports reached Washington to-day that M. Briand (Premier of France), told Colonel Harvey (United States Ambassador in London), that the French Government would accede to Mr. C. E. Hughes’ suggested ratio of 1.7. The French delegation here profess to know nothing concerning the matter, but it is significant that at their request a meeting of the naval sub-committee called for to-day was postponed on the plea that cables from London have still not been received. Apparently the surmise that, the whole question is being discussed between Mr. Lloyd George and M. Briand is correct, and finality had not been reached in time for the morning’s meeting here. Britain’s semi-official spokesman found it necessary to-day to deny a report that Britain ever opposed France being a signatory to the Four Powers Pacific Pact. The tension here lifted during the afternoon, when it was known the French had received long dispatches from London, the presumption, based on authoritative Press cables, being that M. Briand had instructed the delegation to agree to some substantial reduction in their demands. The American spokesman was much more cheerful to-day. Therefore, without anything really definite being available, the tone of comment and discussion has taken a more cheerful note. Jt is understood the Dutch are pressing for some recognition of their position in the Pacific, where they have no guarantee against aggression, as have the four Powers concerned in the pact. There will probably, therefore, be another treaty, taking in the Netherlands, which may be separate or attached to the proposed Nine Power Treaty.

The French issued their first statement to-night. It does not say much. M. Sarrant explained that word had been received from Paris and London, which he immediately submitted tn Mr. Hughes, and after two hours in session it was agreed that the whole matter should be referred to a meeting of the naval sub-committee of fifteen to-mor-row. The attitude of the French Government, as always, was to do their best to come to a satisfactory settlement, and present indications were that they were approaching an agreement. One hopeful sign was that he referred to “unexpected” events arising winch might necessitate further reference to the French Government, but he also hinted that the instructions received covered both subjects—capital ships and submarines.

This suggests the French are srni m a mood for bargaining, and want to offset their yielding on the capital ships question by securing the maximum allowance of submarines. This will not suit the British, who are pressing for a plenary session this week set apart as a field day for a discussion on the submarine question, so that they can state their case for the abolition ot sunmarines. This Lord Lee (First Lord of the British Admiralty) will do, but i-f the French make their acceptance of the capital ship ratio contingent on greater submarine allowance the issue is likely to be obscured, to the detriment of the British. Moreover, if the French insist on the maximum allowance of submarines Britain will, qs cabled some time ago, announce that she holds herself, entitled to build to the absolute limit in chasers and all kinds of submarine defence devices. The British are most anxdous to have the matter discusssed entirely on its own merits, but it is understood the United States is not, seeing the weakness of their own case as upholders of disarmament and advocating the preservation of the worst form of warfare, but it is difficult to see how it can be avoided. Considering the United States and France both had days specially their own in plenary sessions, it would be only fair that Britain should have the same.

The Italians to-night issued a statement reiterating that they would not retire from their position of wanting a navy on equality with France. With that proviso they would agree to a navy of any size compatible with national security.