The Washington herald., 1921-12-18
FRENCH IRE ROUSED
Delegates Insist Right to
Modernize Navy Be
Recognized.
DOES NOT INTEND
TO CONSTRUCT NOW
Resents Plan for Tonnage
One-Third That of
United States.


TT took the United States. Great
Britain and Japan FIVE weeks to
agree upon a naval ratio. Does It
seem reasonable that France should
complete her position in five days."
In the above words a spokesman
for the French delegation last night
summed up their position in the
latest developments of the naval
armament conference. He stressed
the fact that in his opinion there
was no real reason for the emotion
or excitement that has followed the
public announcement of the French
position and her demand that she
he given a capital ship ratio greater
than that of Japan and closely ap-
proximating that OF Great Britain
and the United States.
Not to Bald Now.
He declared that II had been made
very plain to the conference that
France had no present intention OF
constructing any capital ships at
this time. She simply insisted. he
said, that her right to modernize
her navy be recognized.
when the conference opened,
Secretary Hughes announced that
the United States had decided that
the ratio for capital ships between
the three competing powers should
be placed on a $50 basis. France
was not consulted. Now. with her
own interests paramount. she felt
that she had every reason TO place
her position before the public. But
the speaker insisted that every
movement TO date has been made
in the most friendly spirit and
without any desire TO create any
unfortunate situation
The speaker. however. refused to
discuss what France actually wants
In the line OF a capital ship ratio.
That was a matter, he said. that his
experts were explaining to the con-
ference. But he pointed out that
before, this conference was called
the French budget had shown the
attitude of France toward imme-
diate naval construction when IL
was presented with all items for
capital ships eliminated.
A hit Sarcastic.
There was an attitude of half
sarcasm in the speakers
declaration that:
so far. the French delegation
has done the least talking They
have not replied to any criticism
from other sources. Now. with a
problem very seriously affecting
them. the delegation proposes to
place their point Of view before the
people of the world.
THE present cost Of construction
of capital ships is much too high
for France TO begin building at this
time But she does intend to alb
solutely insure her inherent rights
and will positively refuse to agree
that any power, or powers. shall
define such rights in contradiction
to her own interests"
1t was very plain from the atti-
tude OF all Of the French delegates
that they resented the statement
made by Secretary Hughes in the
naval committee that. in the opinion
OF the experts who best understood
the case. France should be perfect
ly willing to agree to naval
strength. based on capital ship hg-
ures. that would be about third
of that assigned to the United
States and Great Britain.
The spokesman for the delegation
said that all Of the facts bearing on
the case have been communicated to
Premier BRAND and the French gov
eminent. It also was intimated
that the information so communi-
Gated must Of necessity be made
the medium for a cabinet conference
in Paris.
Gets Little sympathy.
Although the French spokesman
continued 10 insist last night that
what they desired was simply theo-
reticaI recognition Of the right Of
France to he the third naval power
of the world. their point was not
accepted with any degree of sympa-
thy anywhere. British sources. es-
pecially were rather bitter in re-
plying to il. TIE only power that
France would want to direct a navy
against would be Great Britain.
they said. and with her right to re-
tain her great army unopposed, any
concessions along naval lines would
make for future irritation in the
world
incidentally. there vas a hint in
conference quarters that, possibly.
behind the French naval position
was concealed a plan to secure an
advantageous position when Pre-
miers Lloyd George and BRAND dis
cuas the German reparations in
their coming conference in London.