TENSION RELAXED

Evening Post, Volume CII, Issue 149, 21 December 1921, Page 7

TENSION RELAXED

THE SUBMARINE MENACE.

<<Ui<IRAUAN . J|f 11ALAXI) CAlll AII0CIAT10K.) WASHINGTON, 19th Dec. Well-authenticated reports reached Washington, to-day that M. Briand told Colonel Harvey in London that the French Government would accede to Mr. Hughes's suggestion that the ratio of the French Navy to the British and American would be 1.7 to S. The French delegates 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 cable messages from London had still not been received. Apparently the surmise that the whole question is being discussed be. tween Mr. Lloyd George and M. Briand is correct, and finality had not been reached in time for this morning's meeting here. The tension here was lifted during the afternoon. It is known that the French have received long despatches .from London, the presumption, based on authoritative pa-ess cables, being that 31. Briand has instructed the delegation to agree to some substantial reduction •n their demands. The American spokesman was much more cheerful to-day, therefore, without anything really' definite being a-vailable. The tone and comment of the discussion has taken a more, hopeful note.

The French issued their first statement to-night. It does not say much. M. Sarraut explained that word had been received Paris * and. London which, he immediately submitted to Mr. Hughes. After a two-hours' session it was agreed that tha whole matter should be referred to'a meeting of the naval sub-committee of fifteen to-morrow. The attitude of the French Government, as always, was to do the best to come to a satisfactory settlement, and the pre. sent indications were that they were approaching agreement. One hopeful signf was that he referred to "unexpected1! events, arising which might necessitate a. further reference to the French Government, but he also hinted that the instructions received covered the subjects of both capital ships and submarines.'

BRITAIN AND UNDERSEA WAR.

This suggests that the French, are .still in a mood for bargaining, and want to offset their yielding on the capital ship question by securing a maximum allowance of submarines. This will not suit the British, who are pressing, for the- plenary session this week to be set apart as a field day for the discussion of the submarine question, so that they can state their case for the abolition of submarines. This statement will be madie by Lord Loe. But ii the French make their acceptance of the capital ship ratio contingent on " a 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, as cabled some time ago, announce that she holds herself Free, to build to the absolute limit in chasers and all lands of submarine defence devices. The British are most anxious to have the matter discussed entirely on its own merits. It is underetood that the Americans are not so, foreseeing the weakness of their own cage, as upholders of disarmament, in advocating the preservation of the worst form of naval warfare, bat it is difficult fo see how they can avoid it. Considering that the United States and France have both had days specially their own in the plenary sessions, it would be oniy 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 equal to that of France. With that proviso they would agree to a navy of any size compatible with national security.