The Washington herald., 1921-11-19
French Premier Backs
America on Issue of
Submarines.
FUTURE FORECAST
HELD UNCERTAIN
Baron Shidehara Recov-
ers From Illness-At-
tends Late Conference.

Premier BRAND declared last
night that he is very anxiously
awaiting the next public session OF
the arms conference. He has thor
oughly enjoyed himself since he
reached Washington. But he is to
return home next Friday. and he
has not as yet placed before the
people of the United States the
plans and desires of his beloved
France.
He will do so on Monday. At that
time he will address the pIenary
session in Continental Memorial
Hall on the problems of land dis
armament. He will explain the
peculiar position in which France
Is placed by the existing conditions
in continental Europe. The silver
voiced premier will frankly tell the
conference.-the the people of the
United States, because he admits
that this is the audience that he
plans to address-that the French
army has been reduced as far as
possible.
Fears Germany and Russia.
Only through the reviving and
making effective of the tri-partie
agreement, whereby the United
States and Great Britain would i'm
mediately come to the protection
of France in the event OF German
aggression, could the French forces
be whitfield down any further than
at present. The premier will point
out that Germany's trained army
continues far out of proportion to
the limit agreed upon in the treaty
of Versailles and that Russia re-
mains a distinct menace.
He will argue that Poland faces
annihilation by Russia should hos
tilities between the nations be re-
sumed. and that the Russian army
could be depended on to aid Ger
many should she at any time re-
sist allied control.N A othed
German and Russian military force
always looms as a menace to
France, BRAND will declare. and
because of this 1t is impossible for
her to consider further reductions.
Oners Concessions In East.
BRAND declared that his country
was very anxious to make every
possible concession in the Far East.
He expressed the belief that il
would be possible to adjust the dis
puted questions there. so that all
of the nations interested there can
have their rights safeguarded. The
integrity of China, he said, must be
prepared. The premier fully In
dorsed the suggestions already
made by members of his delegation
of what France is willing to sur
render in the interests OF making
China a powerful nation.
So far as France is concerned she
has neither intention nor desire to
modify the United States naval
proposals. She has no very up-to-
date battleships and she considers
the submarine exactly the type Of
craft that is necessary to protect
the far flung coast line of the
French Republic.
with q. 8. on Submarines.
Defining the position of France
on the submarine, and carefully
weighing his words, the French
premier said:
'The submarine is the weapon of
the weak. We cannot take the
same view about it that Great Brit
ain does. 1t Is impossible now TO
forecast the exact character of fu-
ture naval warfare. Consequently
France must stand by the United
States in this matter"
This statement was extremely
important in view of the announce
ment from Paris that the French
senate has asked for credits for
construction of twenty-four sub
marines of a new type. 1t has
been rumored for some time that
very important new inventions have
been made by French engineers
that would make the submarine a
far more effective weapon of war
fare than it actually was in the
recent war.
Expects Naval Agreement,
The premier stated that before he
returns home he fully expects that
an agreement will have been
reached on the naval questions SO
far as the broad declaration of
principles is concerned. OF course
there still will be details to be
worked out but they will not be of
a character that will cause friction.
Prince Tokugawa and Vice Min
lister for Foreign Affairs Harihara
at their meeting with the corre-
spondents last night explained that
they were as yet unable to make
any statement on the Far Eastern
position Of Japan and that. for the
present at least, they could nor
make any further explanation OF
the Japanese naval amendment sug-
gestions. The various problems un-
der consideration are receiving the
attention of the entire delegation,
he said. Baron Shidehara has so
far recovered from his slight in
disposition that he was able to
participate IN some of the late con-
ferences OF yesterday.
Japan Postpones Reply.
Asked the direct question whether
Japan could consider the Chinese
proposals as acceptable in prInci-
pie, as the delegation said 1t con-
sidered the Hughes suggestions. the
prince said:
The time has not yet arrived
when we feel that We cam reply to
this. We are giving all of the Chi
nese suggestions the most friendly
consideration. But they are most
important. and We. must be careful
to consider them from every aspect.
CoGtsnnxk en- Puoe Yn.n