Evening star., 1921-08-07
France Expects England and
Japan to Explain Desire for
Bigger Fleets.
MUST SAY WHO IS FEARED
Perspective of the Washington Dis.
arament Farley Is Discussed
From All Angles.
BY STEPHANE LACZANNE,
Editor Of LIE Matin, Paris.

BY Cable to The Star.
PARIS. August THE joy which
the great majority of the French peo-
pie feel in the perspective of the
meeting Of the conference at WASH
ington has not decreased, although on
certain sides-and in particular on
the English side-there is a tendency
toward attempts to dampen it, and it
has been said to France:
IF. at Washington. in November,
the Limitation of armaments will be
under discussion. the discussion will
not only bear upon naval armaments,
but also upon land armaments. France
will be obliged to reduce her army"
This perspective has nothing vexa-
uous for France. and it is not for
her pleasure that at the present mo-
ment she is maintaining an army of
100000 men, which is costing her from
three to four billion francs per annum.
Distinction Pointed Ont.
However. it will be well to establish
a distinction between the land arma-
ments of France and the naval arma-
ments of England and of Japan. 1t
ID Wen known to every one why
france maintains today an army of
100000 men and against whom this
army Is directed. 1t is directed against
Germany and against bolshevism-
that Is to say-that it's purpose is to
maintain the present territorial status
OF Europe and the maintenance of
order. In the event Of any one ex-
s.S~ rsk
lngton conference as to her military
forces France is prepared to give ali
the necessary explanations and,
through the. mouth of M, Aristide
BRAND. she will add:
am quite prepared to reduce or to
limit my military forces, if am
given the guarantee that Germany
Will not seek to take her revenge
and that Russia will not attempt TO
invade western Europe with the pur-
pose of establishing the reign of com
munism and bolshevism."
Maybe 1t is estimated that France
mas an exaggerated fear of GERMANY
and even of Russia; but one cannot
lail to recognize that. in any case.
France declares clearly and frankly
why she does not Law down her armor-
Reasons Not Stated.
IN tne otneF nano, II is not very ex-
actiy known why England and Japan
desire to further increase the form.
dable fleets which they have at their
disposal. and against whom they are
directed. Against Germany? She has
neHner Meet nor any more colonies.
Against bolshevism? 1t has armies
at its disposal. but not single shin.
Against China? China has no fleet.
One looks around in vain, but with
out seeing the power which Japan and
England might \have to. fear. Or
rather. one sees but one-America.
Now. America is not dreaming of
conquest. America has never attacked
any one. nor has she coveted the terri
tories OF any one. America has de-
Tended the liberties of the world and
1t is not America who would ever i'm
peril them.
In other words. If 1t be America
which England and Japan fear. they
may at once reduce their fleets to
two-thirds or three-Quarters
At Washington, at all events. Japan
and England will have to speak as
frankly and as clearly as France and
declare whom they fear against whom
they are'preparing, and for what rea-
son they are increasing the thickness
OF their armor.
OF Vital importance.
French public opinion estimates that
these explanations are of vital i'm
portance. It is always well. for ma
tons as well as for individuals, to
state outright and frankly what one
believes. what one fears and what one
wants. <The danger resides in silence.
in the shade, in concealments-re-
serves.
France is ready to cry out loud from
the top of the highest sky scrapers of
New York of whom and of what she
is afraid. Let England and Japan do
likewise!
The peoples of the world will be
listening and will judge. If the fears
of these or Of those are exaggerated
or false. they will be reassured. and it
will be demonstrated to them, and
guarantees will be granted to them.
But how can one possibly reassure
people who remain silent and who
do not say what they fear?
All Of US, as many as We are, Will
none of us arrive at limiting the
armaments otherwise than by limiting
the dangers of war. And we shall
only be able to limit the dangers of
war by limiting obscurity and con-
fusion.
Peace is light.