Evening star., 1921-12-26
BRITISH QUESTION
FRENCH POSITION
Lloyd George and BRAND,
However, Declared to
Be in Accord.
SHIP DEMAND PUZZLES
All Sides Believe That Harmonious
Settlement Will Eventually
Be Reached. ....
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL.

Bf EsDWARD PRICE BELL.
tBy Cable 10 The Star and the Chicago Daily
News. Copyright 1921
LONDON, England. December "a
Prime Minister Lloyd George and
Premier BRAND concur in a statement
that Great Britain and France have
reached an understanding which
stabilZcS the Anglo French entente.
However. competent observers ex-
press skepticism. OF one thing the
world may be assured: If the Anglo
Ere ench entente is to endure France
must not seek to add formidable naval
forces to its existing preponderating
strength of land forces. If France
were to dc g" it would simply take
the place lately vacated by Germany
under comrUlsi"n constant
rurr" Of susnisinn and uneasinsss to
i'," British government and ptcp!s.
I'ranrt,'S t.!a ms r.n ,..tiR.- I4 n .>'rins
sInaZr'i Great Britain. Tho abrupt
Withdrawal "f That claim created
confusion. Tho British nrople ftSk.
What do the French really want or
the sea? Were they sincere about tae
hattleships or was this claim advanc-
cd for trading purposes? Is their real
desire to get Il dangerous fleet OF
cruisers, auxiliaries and submarines?
NuSt Drop Navy Demand.
It can be stated on authority that
lloyd George shares the feeling of
his countrymen on this subject. II
France wants British aid in making
Germany pay as far as Germany can
pay. and if France wants such con-
fdence and sympathy from the Brit
ish cmpire-for the empire will have
To be considered in such a matter
as viii a-2hle the British .o~ernrient
to helm France in making itself Sc
cure agiir,st noS%ible f.uronran er-
'mieS. then France cannot DerSevara
in its policy nf deveIopin@ naval
euuipment regarded by the British as
psrilouS to their nar'onsl lie.
lust as tha insistence Of France
urcn its claim for hattieshirs would
wreck the aims of the Washington
conference 50. it is pointed ont in
Downing street insistercv by France
,'non its f!e,nand for a large fleet of
tighter fi~htin~ craft would invol"e
the same result. because If Fran"
builds submarines Great R-itain will
hr,'1d submarines in proportion. Thn.
lacking For security in national
r"iGhhorlineSs and honor would give
place once more to competitive prep
arationS for war.
Hone for Settlement.
Lloyd George and the British people
hope that if the submarine cannot be
abolished totally their tonnage viii
he restricted ratlirally and that the
heavier types will be prohibited. What
vii! France DO in regard to the British
standpoint? II Premier Briand pre-
walls on the government councils in
Paris France according 70 wetl-!p
formed men here VII do enough.
lloyd George has made the eminent
Fr-erchmau not only understand but
s. n9nathize with the British point of
view.
On the other hand. NJ Rriand has
rraGa I.1oyd George acquainted with
his difficulties as the nationnl leader
of the French at this juncture. In
their complete mutual understanding
and singular temperamental afinitv
fnheres. perhaps. EuroDe's greatest
present political asset. If thev cannot
pilot the entente snip through the
rough seas that heset it proba bly, no
living political naviGators could do so.
Critics. insensible of the strength of
the Fundamental bonds that unite
Great Britain and France. repea tedly
have predicted hopeless cleavage.
but in every instance they have been
,lScrediisti. II is highly proba BILE
thai they will be discredited this time.
While Great Britain and the United
States move in the same orbit. it is
almost inconceivable that France viii
swing away from this orbit for the
sake of a fleet Of submarines or any
thing of like nature.