DISARMAMENT.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2004, 21 December 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT.

NAVAL DISCUSSIONS. FRANCE WANTS SUBMARINES. Tin: claims or Holland. [By Electric Cable—Copyright.] [Aust. and N.Z. Cable Association.] (Special.) (Received Tuesday. 0.25 pni..) WASHINGTON, December 10. Well authenticated reports have reached Washington today that M. Briand told Mr Harvey in London that the French Government would accede to Senator C. E. Hughes's suggestion of a ratio of 1.7. The French delegation here profess to know nothing concerning the matter, but it is sign.ficant that at their request a meeting of the naval sub-committee, called for to-day, was postponed on the plea that the cables from London had 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 was not reached in time for this morning's meeting here. Britain's semi-official spokesman found it necessary to-day to deny the report that Britain ever opposed France being a signatory to the Four Powers Pacific Pact. Tension here lifted during the afternoon when it became known that the French had received long despatches from London. This presumption, based on authoritative press cables, being that M. Briand has 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. Tho tone of comment on the discussion has taken a more hopeful note.

It is understood that 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 tho proposed nine power treaty. The French issued their first statement to-night, but it does not say much. M. Sarrant explained that word had been received from Paris and London, which he immediately submitted to Senator Hughes, and after a two hours' session it was agreed that the whole matter bo referred to a meeting of the naval subcommittee of fifteen to-morrow. The attitude of the French Government, as always, was to do their best to come to a satisfactory settlement, and the present indications were they were approaching an agreement. One hopeful sign was that he referred to "unexpected" events arising, which might necessitate further reference to the French Government, but also hinted that the instructions received covered both subjects, capital ships and submarines. 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 arc pressing for a plenary session this week, to be set apart as a field day for the discussion of the submarine question, so that they can state the case for the abolition of the submarine. This Lord Lee will do but, if 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 a maximum allowance of submarines Britain will, as cabled some time ago, announce that she holds herself free to build to the absolute limit in submarine chasers and all other kinds of submarine defence devices. The British are most anxious to have the matter discussed entirely on its own merits, but it is understood that the United States is not so far-seeing as to the weakness of their own case as the upholders of disarmament in advocating the preservation of the worst form of naval ,warfare. But it is difficult to see how they can avoid it, considering that as the United States and France both had days which were specially their own in the plenary sessions, it is only fair that Britain should have the same.

It was semi-oflicially announced to-night that considerable progress had been made towards a settlement of the Shantung problem, indeed the Chinese and Japanese hoped to reach a conclusion, but though thoy sat late they were unable to do so.

Commenting on the change of Government at Pekln, Mr Wellington Koo said it would not make any difference to the delegation as tho foreign minister in the late Cabinet was now acting as Prime Minister.

Official: At the meeting of the Chinese and Japanese delegations today the discussion centred around a Proposal from the Japanese delegation to have certain offices of the administration of the Tsingtao-Tsinanfu railway filled by Japanese nationals. The meeting was adjourned.

CHINESE DELEGATION. EFFECT OF CHANGE IN GOV- , ERNMENT. (Special.) (Received Tuesday, 10.25 p.m.) WASHINGTON, December 20. Asked to-night about the anti-Am-erican demonstration in Japan Admiral Kato said he never heard of the organisation said to be responsible, and thought a great deal of the- agitation was due to men wanting a livelihood, rather than actuated by patriotism. With reference to Japan's desire to finance and purchase the Shantung railway it has been suggested in influential quarters that she will use the present four Power consortium for the purpose, which course is likely to be accepted by China. American and Chinese 'circles are discussing to-night the effect the change in the Chinese Government will have on the delegation here. The results may be summarised thus, first, the resignation of the President Mr Hsu Shin Chang with Mr Liy-nan-hung as his successor; second, the .selection of a strong man as Premier working for the financial rehabilita-