Arizona republican., 1921-12-29
IRepublican A. p. Leased wlrel

WASHINGTON. Dec. 2s.-Efforts to agree on limitation of submarine and auxiliary ship tonnage were abandoned today by the arms con ference naval committee after a naval program fixing French limits at 90,000 tons in submarines and 330,- 0o0 tons in auxiliary vessels had been announced to the navsl- committee for France by NJ. Sarraut, heading the French deIega tion.
 It was followed by expressions of disappointment by the American. Italian and Japanese delegations that no agreement was possible and by q warning for the British group by Arthur J. Balfour. that Great Britain must regard the French submarine program ',as very great menace" to British security. For the Italian group, Senator Schanzer also spoke >f the serious pre- occupations of Italy. because of the economic sac rifices" and the political conse- quences.' the French naval program might produce.
 M. Sarrsut replied sharply "to al- legations just made. certain of which I find wholly unacceptable. French naval estimates were based on a con- ception ''of the true needs and inter ests of France and her colonies" he said, and were not influenced "by any comparison with what our neigh bors are doing or by anxiety to Inea- sure our naval forces against theirs
 "Herein,'' he continued. ''lies the profound difference between our points of view and those of others.
 I've object to having it believed or to having it said that the creation by France of a defensive weapon in- yolying a certain tonnage of sub marines could be considered as a menace to any of her friends"
 Mindful of Other Wars
 Mir. Balfour declared that while ii was "unthinkable" that any but friendship should prevail between Great Britain and France. history recalled that they had been in con- flict in the distant past
 Britain always had possessed su- perior naval armament and inferior land forces to France, he said. add ing:
 Never in the history of France has she had fo fear the power of Great Britain to strike a blow at her heart No inferior military power has ever yet been able to invade or seriously imperil a superior military power merely because she had more ships.
 Suppose the almost inconceivable happened and close allies became enemies. It is perfectly clear that in that case no British superiority of capital ships would imperil the life of France for an hour.' Now compare the position of 1 France in the face of a superior 1 British surface fleet with the posi-
 ton of Britain. in the face of. France with the largest submarine fleet. She could use that fleet if she chose for [ commerce destruction. and it is diff | ficult to believe that in time oi stress she would not use it. If Bri- | tain were unarmed against sub marines it was evident that France 1 using that felonous weapon, could | destroy her very existence .'' Mir. Falfour said M Sarraut had | talked of the absolute necessity fol i France of possessing a fleet of 90, 00t 1 tons of submarines.
 ! For what purpose? He continued. i Not to cooperate with fleet oi ] 175.O0 tons of capital ships. It was ] out of proportion. What did he waR' ! the 90 900 tons of submarines for" Subs Threaten Commerce 1 Submarines were a powerful wea- ! pon for one purpose only. the de struction of commerce, he said, and ! added:
 It is not unreasonable that Great ! Britain. when threatened by estab- | lishment within a few miles of hei coast of a vast fleet of submarines