Evening star., 1921-12-25
FULL TEXT OF ENJOYS
VIEWS ON SUBMARINES

i is very natural and which isf not
peculiar to the French. There must
be no misunderstanding on this point
the views we uphold are not the eX-
elusive views of France, they are
shared by many other countries
whose ideas we only reflect. NO
country worthy of the name can
leave to others the care of it's nation
al defense: every country has the de-
sire and the right to assure its own
safety. and not to entrust to any one
else, the defense of its independence
or it's integrity; every country tries
to do this through it's own means
and it's personal resources.
Some of these countries are able to
build mighty fleets and possess cap
ital ships; but those which do not dis
pose of the same resources. the same
financial facilities. are building or
will build submarines, which consti-
tute the weapon of the weak and are
less costly. Should this right be de-
nied them? They have no choice
when they see other countries main
tanning powerful fleets-without any
warlike intention. to be sure. but with
a view to protecting their own safety
against any eventuality. Persuasion
was of no avail; constraint will not
succeed any better. Besides. no one
present here could ever dream OF
constraint, for the very simple reason
such an attitude. / called the atten-
tiOn of Great Britain in a friendly
way to the construction which might
be given to our decisions by certain
countries, and which would run
counter to our common efforts to Gre
ate spirit of peace. An atmosphere
of peace can only reign throughout
the world If We give all peoples the
assurance and guaranty that this
peace is based on feeling of equity
and justice which takes the interests
of all into account. The day when
these peoples begin to think that we
are likely to make use of moral con-
straint to impose on them our way of
th'nking-and l venture to empha size
this idea at the present moment. when
the Susceptfbilities of nations should
be carefully considered-I would be
sorry to see grow up once more
around the beneficial work that we
are accomplishing here, certain leg
ends and even certain calumnies dis
torting the trend of our purposes, like
those from which we, the French
have suffered, and that We have seen
only recently used against France in
the press representing her in an i'm
Jerialistic attitude.
Must Avoid Wrong Impressions.
1t must not be permitted that such
campaigns misinterpreting our true
sentiments should be initiated against
any one of us, France, Great Britain
Japan and SO forth. If certain ones
among us preserve more or less con-
siderable naval forces, and if we, at
the same time, forbid other peoples
not represented here the right to pro-
cure for themselves those smaller but
still efficaciouS weapons of defense
which they believe they need, might
not the legends to which 1 have re-
ferred tempt them to think that other
more powerful countries wish to keeI
them in Subjection. to force them tC
place themselves under their protec-
ton and to retain them in sort OF
vasSalage2
THAT is the impression which we
must avoid. We must. l repeat. care.
fully consider the mental attitude OF
the peoples who are not represented
here and whose susceptibilities nigh,
mlSconStrue the exact trend of the de.
cisions toward which We are collabo.
rating.
And thus, gentlemen. you perceive
the conclusions to which l am lead.
ing. You cannot assume here certain
obligations in the matter of subma
rineS in the name OF countries no.
taking part in this conference; yoI
can neither persuade nor coerce them
that is to say, you cannot, in way
have the guaranty that they will fol
low the example of not constructing
submarines.
Hence, in the absence of these
come to a decision. We have come tc
an agreement on the reduction of Of
fensive naval ornaments. But the
question of means of defense must be
left to the consideration of the
countries interested.
Could Raise Question.
Il readily understand that meet.
ing of a general conference might be
suggested in which would be repre-.
sented all the countries interested in
the question of submarines. In this
conference might be determined the
rules applying to more humane use
of submarines: the question Of the
principle of the retention or abolition
raised. Then all the nations interested
in the question might express theiI
opinion and really effective decisions
might be reached. For the time being
l repeat, l believe that we cannot
even make decisions regarding the
question of the limitation of the sub
marine tonnage which constitutes a
defensive navy. nor an offensive
weapon.
Let the tonnage of the great ships
of the attacking vessels be limited
as we have done; that is well. and
each country may make it's contribu.
ton along with it's personal sacrifices
in the matter. but, as regards the de-
fenSive navy. it is those countries
concerned which know best their needs
and the situation that they must
confront.
1t is essentially a question which
is dependent upon the sovereignty OF
such countries and upon the percep-
ton they have of their responsibility
as to national safety.
"Such. gentlemen. are the consider
ations that l wish to lay before Mr.
Balfour; 1 do not know whether
shall have succeeded in convincing
him. but at least the great honor OF
having entered into debate with hin
will have been mine"
Answers NJ. Sarraut.
Mp Balfour aaid:
Il do not mean to worry you will
another long speech, but I must say
one or two sentences to make my po-
sition clear after the words used by
NJ. Sarraut. Those observations. sc
far as l am concerned, were not only
most courteous. but they were f1atter.
SPECIAL NOTICES.