The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-19
BRITISH TRAPPED
FRENCH UNFAIRLY,
ASSERTS SIMONDS
Paris Delegation Resents
Being Treated Like a
Poor Relation"
By FRANK H. s1MoNps.


What 10 the matter with the
Frenchr This question pretty as-
curately expresses the present feel
ing In Washington In view Of the
crisis which has been produced By
the French. demands in the matter
of naval strength. The answer is
neither easy nor simple, because q
great many elements are involved.
but csrtaia tfxcts or certain eircum-
Stances have created q French stat to
of mind which largely explains the
French action.
The French came here as one of
the great powers of the world, in
vited to the conference and expect
ing that equal participation which
American, like British. representa-
tives had at the Paris conference.
This equal participation they feel
that they have not enjoyed at any
time. Instead, with the Italians,
they assert that they have spent
most of their time cooling their
heels in their hotels, while Great
Britain, Japan and the United
States have discussed the problems
OF the Pacific and the question of
sea power. They have seen British
and Japanese rights and interests
recognized, and their points Of view
heard with respect and attention.
Only Twice In Linelisht.
Up to the moment when the nava,
ratio issue was raised France had
exactly two important relations to
the conference. NJ. Briand was
permitted to express the French
view as to land armaments, and
this subject. in Difference to French
view, was dropped. Again, after
the United States, Great Britain
and Japan had been working on a
three-party agreement in the Pa
cific for many weeks and agreement
was reached, the French, who had
nothing whatever to do with the
preparation of this agreement. were
permitted as an act of grace on Mr.
Hughes part and against the
wishes of the British, to become q
signatory.
Last Thursday. after the British,
Japanese and the United States rep
resentatives had reached an agree
ment upon the subject or navai re-
lations, the French were called in
and told the ratio which. in the
opinion of the United States, Great
Britain and Japan. represented the
maximum Of French claims. From
the French point Of view this con-
stituted no more or less than indi-
eating . dotted line on which
France was, invited to sign with
out ceremony and without protest.
Apparently in Trap.
When the French instead Of sign
ing presented their views on what
their naval strength should be, not
| only. was this estimate instantly
OPPOSED both by the United States
and Great Britain. but this proposal
of the French was made public by
British agent, seemingly with the
obvious purpose Of arousinR Amer
ican sentiment against France.
Thus the French found themselves
in what seemed and seems to them
a trap.
No one has published the FIRST
proposals made by Great Britain,
for example, as to an Anglo-Japa-
nese-American treaty. No one pub
lished at the opening of the dis
cussion anything which purported
to represent British Views, although
everybody knows that the British
advocated something much moro
nearly like an alliance than the
four-power treaty which was
adopted. Absolure secrecy was
preserved up to the moment when
agreement had been reached, and
no opportunity was allowed for at
tack directed either upon Great
Britain or Japan for proposals
which, from the American point of
view, uunuuestionably seemed ex-
treme.
Understand Their Position.
But the publication by a British
press agent of the French naval
proposal places the French in the
position OF seeking to wreck the
l-conference, when from their own
point Of view they are merely max
ing that statement of their views
| which they have an obvious right
] Cosft~ssd on Poas Three