The New York herald., 1921-12-25
Gesture at Variance With
Expressed Views to U. S.
Proposals.
SOLE DISCORDANT NOTE
French Still Obaurate on Is
sue of Big Quota Of Aux
iliary Craft.
BY LOUIS sEIBoLD.


Special Dispatch to THE Nrw YosK HEsALD
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington, ID. c., Dec. "a.
The most interesting event of the
Christmas that preceded the conven.
ing of the Paris Peace Conference
three years ago was the swan dive OF
a trim French girl in brief one
piece bathing suit from the parapet
of the Alexandria Bridge into the icy
Seine.
All of the peace commissioners and
most of the population of the French
capital crowded the low hung bridges
and fringed the stone bulkheads on
either side Of the narrow stream and
applauded the dauntless courage OF
the champion female swimmer oil
France.
Here in Washington three years
later group Of Frenchmen are at
tracing almost as much attention
by insisting on a greater percentage
of auxiliary seacraft and submarines
than is favored by the majority OF
tho delegates to the international
conference which is attempting to
construct new charter for the con
duct of world affairs.
Regarded ms N Gesture.
Their insistence is less entertain
ing to the spectators than was the
graceful flight of the French girl
from the bridge in front of the Qua
d'Orsy, where the Paris Peace Con
ference was held. The compatriots
at Washington of the French swim
mer at Paris are putting up a stub
born fight for what they assert to bt
their defensive requirement in the
matter of cruisers, torpedo boats and
submarines. But their demonstration
is regarded as more in the nature ol
a gesture than anything else.
The majority of these delegated
from not only this but other cour
tries while paying high tribute Il
the sincerity of French naval ambt
tions, nevertheless are puzzled BY
them and are quite convinced that
in the end their demands either will
be withdrawn or pared down to con
form to the reasonable ratio proposed
by the other sea Powers of the world
Up to the present the French Gov
ernment has not instructed NJ. Sar
raut. Ambassador Jusserand aud Ad
miral de Bon to accept the more rea
sonable allotments favored by tn,
larger number OF delegates. The faci
that it has not done so is matter
of great momentary concern, because
there is the fullest confidence on the
part Of delegates of the United States
Italy and Japan, at least, that ths
French demands will be reconciled tt
the program most generally favored
Proposals Arc PcrpIexing.
Discussion of the French proposal
engaged the attention Of the dele-
gates Of the five leading sea Powers.
the United States. Great Britain,
France. Italy and Japan--at two ses-
siofs to-day The last meeting ex-
tended beyond the shopping hour.
When a recess was taken until Tues
day there had been no definite do
velopment.
American officials and delegates who
counted on the fullest support and
OF the representatives os
the French Government at the be.
OF the conference several
weeks ago have not lost faith in
the sincere purpose Of the latter q
make the international conference sue.
cessful i'm every way.
They have been perplexed at times
by the proposals put forward by rep'
OF the French republic,
but have generally attributed them "a
the fearful consequences which havs
ever beclouded the French vision since
the German invasion of French soil
seven years ago.
Holding full appreciation of the 20.
tential German menace which is up'
permost In the mind of every French
man, woman and child. the Americas
and delegates from other countries
have made unusual allowances foi
French claims. which they are COM
PEELED 20 regard as wholly extrava'
CANT That is the view that prevails
among the delegates of all Of the coun.
tries represented at the conferenc,
regarding the naval pretentions Of this
French representatives.
They are constrained TO bell We thai