The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1921-12-17
By DAVID LAWRENCE.


BY DAVID LAWRENCE.
| Especial Dispatch to The ReformcrD
Copyright 1921.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 1T.-Franca IS
| the new mystery of the arms conference.
Her sudden demand for q navy that shall
eventually equal that of Japan has
thrown the conference into q state of ner-
vous irritation Great Britain doesn't
want any neighbor to have a navy as
powerful as that Japan possesses. For
what purpose would the French use such
IN navy?
| If the French plan were approved. it
would mean that both Great Britain and
the United States would have in the At
] iantic a navy more formidable than their
Irrespective fleets and that all thoughts of
concentrating in the Pacific would have
! t. be abandoned. Britain would have to
give more attention also to the Mediter-
rarean.
In a nutshell. the request of France for
q larger navy, which some dry would be
| even more efficient, SO far as new ships
are corceTged, than the British or Ameri-
can fleets. has started a wave of suSpi-
| cion. Instead of thinking about the Pa
! Cilic pro5lemS aS future causes of con
| tlicts. the British wonder il some Of the
! many disputes which are arising over
| Fer Eastern questions might prccipilate
| a sea war in the Mediterranean.
The atmosphere Of the conference has
! changed over night. Criticism Of the
| French policy is heard on every side
| The United States delegation had hardly
recovered from its disappointment from
! tie failure to compel Japan to accept the
original Hughes program when the French
/ intervene with a plan that will increase
the financial burden of France
Many Disturbing Effects.
On top Of that comes the French de
maud for more capital ships. As Brit
}Sh spokesman pointed ont yesterday the
proposal of the French throws monkey
wrench in the machinery from many diff
f@rcnt directions. I'm the first place. the
French plan is TO begin construction in
1929 and complete the building of 10
capital ships i'm 10 years. This would
rseaa n later type of ship than any the
Americans or British VIII have mt that
time if the original naval holiday Of 10
years agreed upon by Japan, Great Brit
ain and the United States is retained.
In order to catch up with France. both
jIrcat Britain and the nited States
would have TO build seven Iaore capital
ships OF post-Iutiaud type to be on Il
f."t snS. of ce"aiity with the French
Since the battle of -!utlaud a certain
tVpe of vessel known as "poSt-Jutlaud
sAlp' has seemed to render useless all big
vessels built previously to that combat
There's another angle to the French
demand for a big navy. Viewed i'm the
light Of European finances aDd recon
atruction difficulties. the French proposal
is looked upon with considerable uneaSi-
ness in America 2> well as i'm British gov
crnmcnt circles. 1t Is contendpl that IF
France imposes burden of approximately
500, 100000 for the new series of 10
capital ships. she would he less able to
pay her war debt to Great Britain who in
turn would he weakened by that much in
her financial relations with the United
States. Also Italy owes Great Britain
as we'll az the United States. a war debt
that could not possibly be met for gen
Grafton if Italy felt compelled, a. she