The Washington herald., 1921-12-29
SARRAUT REBUKES
BALFOUR'SSHARP
FLING AT FRANCE
Marked Differences on
Submarine Issue in
Conference.

Sharp differences Of opinion be-
tween the spokesmen Of the British
and French DELEGATIONS concerning
the Limitation OF submarines and aux
iliary craft were enunciated at yes
terday's session OF the naval arma-
ment conference committee.
Mr.. Balfour severely criticised the
French position and was in turn
sharply rebuked by NJ. Sarraut for
imputing motives to France that did
not exist This was shown in the
official communique. which was made
public last night
ADDS to Offensive Power.
Dealing with the British position
Balfour said the French proposed to
increase the number of submarines
threefold. II they carried out that
intention. II was evident that they
would not only be equal to the other
two greatest naval powers. America
and Great Britain. in point OF ton
mage, but hat they would have a
very much larger proportion of sub
marines of a. newer type than either
of them. He understood the subma-
rine was still in process of devel-
opment: il was still adding to its
powers Of offense, and each new
model was an Improvement on the
capacity of its predecessors for COM
merce destruction. Thus II was Ger
tain that when that program was
carried out, the French quota Of
submarines would exceed that OF any
other power in the world.
It had further TO be noted. he said.
that their French colleagues accom-
panied their view of the necessity Of
submarines with the announcement
that they intended greatly TO in
crease the tonnage of their auxiliary
craft. II must be acknowledged that
this constituted a somewhat singular
contribution to the labors Of con-
ference called for the diminution OF
armament
Questions Defensive Policy.
Furthermore. 1t had to he observed
that the pleasure derived from the
agreement with regard to the limits-
tion OF capital ships was subject TO
qualifica ton. He understood that
the French intended to begin repisc-
ing ships in 1927. This seemed TO
be a serious interference with the
proposal for a ten years naval holi-
day. but that was only a small part
of the anxiety and disappointment
which the French program had Gre
ated in his mind. They had now
come forward with a great building
program of submarines and auxiliary
craft He was perfectly unable TO
conceive how that could be regarded
as defensive policy. II submarines
were to be used as a strictly mill
tary weapon. In the manner contem-
plated by the American advisory COM
mittee, how came il that fleet o,
capital ships limited to 1f5.ooo tons
required $4,000 tons Of submarines
to scout for IL and protect it7 And
If 10000 tons of submarines were
really required for a feet Of 17s. Zoo
tons Of capital ships. how many sub
marines would America and Grea'
Britain require 10 build to assist their
fleets of SOC, 900 tons?
1t was perfectly obvious that the
proposed $4,000 tons of submarines
were INTENDED to destroy commerce
They could not be intended for any
other purpose. II therefore appeared
that at a moment when We were
all assembled 10 discuss the limita-
ton of armament. we were asked
to agree to their increase. and that
country which did not desire to
be among the arst three naval powers
Hout,u.sI a., Daop Fire