The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-11-15
ITALY AND FRANCE JOIN
IN GENERAL APPROVAL
OFAlNERICAN PROPOSAL

scheme deals and deals only with the
three nations which own the largest
fleets at present in the world. IT,
therefore, of necessity omits all con-
sideration for the time being OF the
European nations who have diminished
their fleets and have at present no de-
sire, and | hope never will have a de-
sire, to possess fleets beyond the neces-
stiles that national honor and national
defense require. II does not touch the
heavy burden of land armament.
"What it does do is one of the big
gest things that has ever yet been
done by constructive craftsmanship.
1t does deal with the three great fleets
OF the world and with the proportion
OF disarmament which it lays down
for those fleets.
Taking the battleships as a basis, I"
said Mr.. Balfour, ssWe think the propo-
sitions between the various countries
are acceptable. We think the limita-
ton Of amounts is reasonable. We
think it should be accepted. We be-
ieve thoroughly it would be accepted.
Mr.. Balfour suggested that the sub
marine tonnage might well be reduced
and that possibly construction Of large
submarines should be prohibited.
The suggestions for changes in the
proposals. Mr.. Balfour said amid ap-
plause, would not affect "the main
structure proposed by the United
States. which he said, he believed
would be accepted.
When Mr.. Balfour promised the
"fulr, loyal and complete cooperation
of the British nation toward the gen
eral American plan the audience rose
and aplauded for half minute.
"At first glance" said Mr. Balfour,
sour experts think that too large an
amount of tonnage has been permitted
for submarines. They were the most
abused agency of the war. The subma-
rine is defensive weapon Of the
weak. II might be desirable to abolish
the submarine altogether.
Our experts believe that the sub
marine tonnage proposed is far in ex-
cess of that possessed by any nation.
II only throw this out as sug
gestion- that the tonnage should be
further limited. 1t might be practica-
Bile or desirable to forbid altogether
those submarines of vast, great size,
which are not intended for defense, but
whose whole purpose is attack and at
tack by method which civilized nations
abhor.n
At that point the audience and del
sgates again applauded.
There are other questions Mr.
Balfour continued, "of replacement of
.ruisers which are not required for
ieet action. But those are matters for
by the technical experts.
Thay don't affect the structure OF the
main structure which the United
states desires to exist and which we
lesire earnestly to help.
ut is easy to estimate I'M dollars or
pounds the savings to taxpayers Of
zach nation which adoption of this
scheme would give. 1t is easy to show
hat relief win be great; that indirect
v it will greatly stimulate industries,
rational and international and do
much to remove the difficulties under
which civilized nations labor. All that
S a matter of figures but there is
something beyond numerical calcula-
ions something that goes to the root
md which concerns the highest inter-
,sts.
"What does the scheme do? II |
makes idealism as practical PROPOSE
ion. 1t takes hold Of the dreams Of
poets, of publicists; even of potenti-
ltes have put it before mankind as
he goal TO which human endeavor |
should aspire.
"In striking the Imagination Mr.. |
3alfour said in closing, mot merely |
he Imagination Of those sitting here
,ut Of the whole civilized world--you
nave made the opening of this con-
erence one of the landmarks in hu-
nan civilization"