The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-23
DENIES
FRANCE WILL ASK
FOR BATTLESHIPS
Holds Responses to His
Speech as Great Peace
Pledges.
By HENRY WALES.


Great battleships have no interest
for France; what We need are sub
marines and light, fast cruisers for
coast defense.
Thus NJ. Aristlde BRAND, chief Of
the French delegation. officially
denied last night reports that
France intends to demand as many
capital ships as Japan.
Regarding submarines, NJ. BRAND
stated that the Limitation of these
craft could not be finally dealt with
at this session OF the conference be-
cause many of the powers vitality
interested in submarines are not
represented here.
The naval problem pre-emlnently
occupies three powers, the United
States. Great Britain and Japan,
he said France is interested in it
to a lesser extent. But France can
not make promises alone and bind
her hands regarding submarines un-
less other nations participate"
Fears Aggression by Germany.
The premier intimated French
fears that Germany might place
secret orders for construction of
submarines in the shipyards of
Norway, Sweden. Denmark and Hol-
land. and suddenly start an aggres-
sive war on delivery of the ships.
The question Of submarines was
introduced at The Hague when we
opposed it, 1t came up next at the
Paris Peace Conference when we
refused to accept: it was mentioned
at Geneva by the league of nations
and now it has come up here" said
NJ. BRAND.
The British. with their great high
seas navy. have always opposed sub
marines. but powers with smaller
navies and with less money to spend
have consistently fought against re-
stricting this weapon as a defen-
sIve arm"
The premier stated that the
French people would not consent to
see their navy and their fleet legis-
lated out of existence at foreign
conference, and recalled the 1912
construction program which has
been postponed owing to the war.
In Accord With Hughes.
France has no fixed project re-
garding her construction program
nor the amount of additions to her
navy" he said. But we are in
accord With Mr. Hughes proposals.
and as | said at the opening ses-
sion, we are behind America"
NJ. BRAND regarded the responses
of Great Britain, Japan and the
United States to his plea against
moral isolation" for France. in the
speech on land disarmament Mon
day as the greatest factor for main
tanning world peace that the con-
ference has yet adduced.
The statements by Mr.. Balfour.
Admiral Kato and Secretary of
State Hughes will have a salutary
effect, particularly in Germany" he
said 1T will show TO the peaceful
section of Germany the necessity of
acting in good faith and will act as
a warning to reactionaries and the
survivors of the military party.
that another aggression would
probably f1nd the whole world again
arrayed against the aggressors.
There are 10000. 900 inhabitant.
in the United States of German
desceLt and there were thousands
OF them in the American army that
fought so valiantly in France. These
men have said that they fought, nor
against Germany. but against the
Hohenzollerns and domination. by
the militarist and imperislist par
ties.
Speaks In New York Friday.
Those people will realize the
justice of Frances claim that she be
permitted security, and the right to
live in peace and safety"
VI. BRAND announced that the
military section of the French dele
cation, headed by Gen Edmond
Buat. chief of the general stan OF
the French army. will return to
Paris with him on Friday.
The departure of Gen. Buat in
dicates that the French have re-
ceived assurances that the question
of land disarmament will not be
pursued further at this conference.
NJ. BRAND will deliver an import
ant speech at the Lotus Club in
New York on Thanksgiving night,
outlining the results of the confer
ence so far. He will sail from New
York on Board the S. s. Paris on
Friday at noon.