Evening journal., 1921-12-29
BRITISH See
WAR MENACEI in
French STAND
CONTINUES From First Page. }

opinion will be directed to the pos
sibilities OF war. A race for arma-
ment will be started and there will
be in the world a general feeling
OF unsettlement and a disposition to
wonder why governments are in
creasing their war forces"
Then with a hidden thrust at
France he remarked THE confer
ence has been useful as showing the
disposition of the different nations
engaged in It,
Italy had expected on coming
here that all the nations OF the
world had abandoned the idea of
predominaing on any continent be-
cause public opinion would stand
against it,"
But. he limited, France evidently
was dreaming Napolenoic dreams OF
a Europe at her feet British states
men declared France had made one
OF the the worst "blunders" in her
diplomatic history -one they believ-
ed she would quickly regret France.
they said, had alienated much Brit
ish and American sympathy.
A phantom Of future war between
France and England-conjured up
by Arthur J. Balfour--hung over
the arms conference today as II pro-
ceeded to rescue what il might from
the wreck of the submarine and aux
iliary craft program.
Balfour, surprisingly direct. has
let the conference know there might
DO conflict between the two powers.
that Britain would prepare against
Frances submarine program and
that his nation believed 1t could
take care OF itself"
There is no doubt that the long
standing friendship between Great
. Britain and France has received a
severe blow as the result of the Bit
ter debates over the French naval
position. Likewise, France. by her
. wrecking Of the program for sub
marine and auxiliary craft limita-
tion, has endangered her historic
friendship with the United States
many observers believe.
France, leading delegates Of ceher
nations admit. Is now virtually in a
e position of moral isolation" as tho
! result OF her own acts She mas
! given no satisfactory reason, Brit.
{ ish and American leaders said, why
. she needs so many submarines anc
8 auxiliary craft and has aroused ths
/ suspicious OF the world regarding
her future military and naval plans
= The conference has agreed on bat
. tleship ratios for the five naval pow
r crs. L. hopes still to set a limit OF
1 the size of auxiliary craft Tel
4 thousand tons per ship with s-incl
guns is proposed. but France an,
italy are asking home about IT,
II also hopes to limit the ton
mage for airplane carriers-some
times called the capital ship OF tn
future" but Japan is going 10 as
more tonnage In this arm than ha
been allotted. and Britain may d.
likewise on the theory that a re
striction would hamper its and-sub
marine preparations
|. The Root resolution establishing
humane laws for U-boat warfar'
probably will be adopted, but tn
British have served notice that Will
this Is well from a moral and psyche
logical ground II will not be depend
ed on as a real check on the Teutoi
type OF summarizing.
Secretary Hughes and the Britisl
y maintain the conference is a success
s despite the fizzle OF the submarin
c and auxiliary program. They con
tend that a tremendous step has bee
u taken through the capital ship agree
II ment Competition only In subma
{, rines and auxiliaries. instead OF Il
IS these and capital ships will now b
o the rule. they say.
But the peace spirit which ha
= hovered over deliberations has bee
IS given a rude shock A plenary Sc;
Is sion soon to be called. will attemT
J. to place upon France the respons
Il bility for a partial failure Of tn
program. France will defend heI
In self.
ly Baifour told conference substar
W TALLY;
Nd ."whne Il is almost unthinkah'
u that the respective countries (Br
tain and France) could be on an,
IN thing but cordial terms. one mu
n not overlook the teaching OF histor
re Suppose the almost iuconcei,
O. able happened and close allies b.
came enemies. = Is perfectly cle'
T. that in that case. no British supe
e. iority OF capital ships would impeI
st the life of France for an hour. 7
of be fair. I must admit that It miel
a. conceivably affect some remote
ne lands belonging TO France, b
NV France with her land armame
Oh would remain securs in the face
a superior sea power.
"A. Nov compare the position
I'D France in the face OF a superior Bri
vc ish surface feet with the position
"a Britain in the face OF France wi
the largest submarine fleet in q
an, world. She could use that feet
she chose. for commerce destrucuc
"A and It is difficult 20 believe that
I'M time NJ stress she would not so u
IT, II Britain were not arm
against that felonious weapon. It
evident that France could destr
our very existence.
.ns ''I do not yield to NJ. Sarraut
,u his conviction that the good feeli
ne between my own country and q
ere great ally across the channel v
eN7 remain mistaken through all I
ma changes which time may bring"
lse' other British spokesmen have 81
ess sequently called Frances positl
"deplorable." adding that Britt
-u- will build a great organization
cope with Frances enlarged 81
nee marine building
In Meantime the French. angered
ac- Balfour's words. are waiting an
ger nortunity to present their case
plenary session. maintaining n
their colonial possessions and otl
q. -