The New York herald., 1921-12-30
LONDON AGGRIEVED !.
AT FRENCH STAND
Feeling That Bright Promises
of Washington Farley May
Be Dimmed.
FEAR REFLEX AT CANNES
Relationship of France to the
Entente Strained by !
Antagonism.

Special Cable to THE NEW York HERALD.
Copyright, 1921. By THE New YoRK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Londen. Dec. 90.
The French attitude with regard to
the submarine question has caused IN
| disguised disappointment In official cir
cles in London, with a growing alarm
that all the happy promises of the
! Washington Conference on the Limi-
problems will not be fulfilled. The
press here unanimously indorses the
| grave words" of Arthur j. Balfour,
| head of the British delegation in
Washington, and disarmament is given
the greatest prominence. The Pau Mall
| Gazette goes so far as to say that the
| French policy regarding submarines
makes farce of the Entente.
! Downing Street does not yet believe
| that Frances mo" is final, but thinks
that in time public opinion will con-
vert the French. One Foreign Office
| official told THE New YORK HERALD
correspondent here that this was an
other striking example of the French
mixing internal politics with foreign
affairs. He pointed out that Premier
BRAND was none too secure In the
Premiership and WAS worried during
the recent conference here with Mr..
Lloyd George, with the result that
their conversations were not as free
as they might otherwise have been,
and II Premier BRAND weakened now
on the French position In Washing
ton H. itYp-obably would result disas-
trously for his Government. II Is
feared that this situation may be re-
fected at the Cannes meeting of the
Allied Supreme Council, causing re-
newed irritation and further compli-
cations in the international situation.
Must Build to Meet France.
II is generally accepted here that any
naval building France proposes to do
must be met by corresponding construc-
ton by Great Britain under the ratio
OF the pre-war naval strength In the
various departments. British officials
are agreed that II France holds out In
her demands 1t will mean a naval'race
in a new direction, with Great Britain
maintaining the proportions laid down
by Secretary Hughes, whatever may be
the cost They reluctantly admit that
this will greatly minimize the prospects
of the success of the Washington con-
ference Reports that Mr.. Hughes is in
xxyit
a source of the greatest satisfaction in
official circles here, and his agreement
for the expansion of armamehts not
under consideration" is seized on by the
press as equal in Importance with Mr..
Balfour's speech.
The Pail Moll Gazette says the French
claim has definitely banged the door
at Washington upon all greater hopes
for a naval reduction"
while we regret this for its imme-
date consequences, we are. compelled
to find much graver significance in II
as defining the attitude of France to-
ward the Entente" it continues That
relationship already has been strained
BY the antagonism which France ex-
hibits toward British interests In many
directions. But this stroke must raise
the question of whether any meaning
whatever can henceforth be attached a
H. We can plainly take no risks
from armament of such piratical potency
as is now foreshadowed as coming into
existence. With such submarine flo
tilla menacing our flank 1t Is evident
that we can accept no limit whatever,
upon our provisions for protective.
craft.
"The situation thus reached becomes
sheer mockery OF the realities which the
word entente might be supposed TO
cover. When we see France deliber-
ately brandishins a weapon which we
have most to fear and which Mas nonei
but aggressive uses II becomes ahpoSt
a farce to pretend that the Entente has
any virtue left in it." =
Blocks Channel Tunnei. F.
The Star says: The first result OF
Frances mad lust for submarines Is TO
drop a depth charge on another OF
Frances pet schemes-the proposed
Channel tunnel"
IL adds that further development of
this scheme Is out of the question.
The Daily Neps says This country
must be prepared to abandon the high
hopes for the abolition of the subma-
rine which were entertained when Mr..
Balfour made his proposal in Washing
ton. Mr.. Balfour had no answer from
France TO his question, Against whom IL
this huge mass of submarines to be
built? What a pity It is for future
peace that France should have COM
PEELED our representative at the WASH
ington conference to have put II at all !"
The London Times says: Judging
by speeches In the French Senate and
the tone Of the French press. the re-
lection OF the British proposal for tho
abolition Of the submarine and the