Evening star., 1921-12-25
changed situation without fear and
without any misgivings.
"Able to Defend Hernelf."

changed situation without fear and
| without any misgivings.
"Able to Defend Herself"
Great Britain is strong enough to
; defend herself and she wants moth
ing more than to defend herself. Nor
do ] believe that any of the nations
to whom reference has been made
by NJ. Sarraut are going to run away
with the idea that for any purpose
whatever Great Britain means to be
| tyrant either on land or sea. He
seems to think that the smaller pow
, ers who might have rejoiced in the
power to build for themselves sub
marine fleets will resent an interna-
tional arrangement by which the use
Of submarine fleets is forbidden and
that they will say. This is an ex-
ample of Great Britain's arrogance,
pride and tyranny If know any
thing of the smaller nations OF Eu-
rope. that is the very last thing they
are going to say. It is not from Brit
! nation that they have ever suffered.
If they consider the power of Great
| Britain at all. they consider IT is a
power to which in time of difficulty
they consider the influence of Great
Britain at all. they know that that
influence has always been exercised
on the side Of liberty. and ] am GER
l tdlnly not going 10 De prevented OH
doing my best to induce this great
| moral reform in the use of weapons
| of war by the fear that the action
| Of myself and my friends. round me
| can even by the bitterest and most
| INSCRIPTIONS calumny be darkened by
| the sort of shadows which NJ. Sar:.
raut seems to think the ingenuity OF
| the calumniator would be able to
| spread over mankind.
THAT is all 1 have to say. ] have
t11 Fr-ta dc
to go over all the ground traversed
yesterday or to deal with the funda-
mental verities of the situation; but
as NJ. Sarraut thought it desirable to
bring up the international relations
governing the situation and to paint
the future in the colors which he
seems to think appropriate. l thought
it would hardly be respectful either
| to him or to those who are sitting
round me if 1 remained perfectly
silent under the observations which
he has made"
| Reply by Sarraut.
| Mr.. Sarraut said. in reply to Mr.
Balfour: II do not intend to mo-
nopolize the attention of the confer
avoid any misunderstanding: and il
is indispensable to the clearness OF
| this discussion that my thought be
not misconstrued. In this connec-
tion I must clarity two points on
which Mr.: Balfour has dwelt. One
situation of France. the other deals
with the possible result of the de-
| cision which the conference might
take as regards submarines on the
opinion of the world. or at least on
the opinion of the powers not rep
PRESENTED here.
| "As regards the situation OF
France and the policy pursued by her
lin safeguarding her independence
and her security. Mr.. Balfour. in
referring to the attitude taken here
by Mr.. BRAND in the land armament
naval matters, has appeared to ex-
perience a feeling of surprise as re-
| CARDS this policy. which he con-
sidered as a unit-a feeling of sur
prise, the causes of which. to tell the
truth. 1 have had difficulty in under
standing.
France. it is true. is compelled tc
make a double effort, military and
naval. The reasons for this are
| simple and clear. AS regards lanG
defense. NJ. BRAND has made here a
statement of the perils against which
our country is obliged to guards
| statement which every one considers
Anal.
"He has indicated. with a cogency
to which l can add nothing. the
necessity which confronted us OF
providing fer our defense by retain.
j ing burden of armaments which re.
duce us to a grievous servitude. I,
is not for our pleasure that we as.
| sumo these sacrifices, and I do no,
believe that any one will venture tC
contradict this.
"Not Seeking Power"
What is the object of our efforts
on the seas? Are we impelled b,
some proud aspiration toward an in.
| crease of maritime power? No; you
know well that we are not, since, a:
regards capital ships. in which lies
true offensive power, that power
which alone could give support to, ar
ambitious scheme, we have made the
greatest sacrifice, and are satisfied
| with the amount of tonnage which
has been allotted to us here. 1t is
true. we ask for submarines-but tt
| what end? To attack our neighbor
should not deign to reply to such 8
suspicion.
The truth is that we are con.
fronted by situation of fact which
Mr.. Balfour must be aware of. Be.
sides our continental coast lines. the
defense of which cannot be neglected
we possess a colonial domain whose
ramifcations are spread all over the
world. France must have the weapon
| she needs to defend her possessions
Just as she must have the weapon
necessary to the safety of her trans
ports and her lines of communication
between the mother cRntry and hel
colonies. both near and distant. Ii
time of peace France scatters hel
military forces throughout her pos.
| sessions: her forces, as you know
are divided among the mother coun.
try, north Africa, and her various colo.
MES.
There is, then, a logical connec
tion between her Indispensable mill
| tary power and her naval force. She
should in any event keep the mean.
of assuring the safe transportation
Of her troops to the mother country
and for this purpose decidedly She
force. This Is why, after having con.
sented to this sacrifice which yot
have asked Of us in the matter Of
capital ships, we come here to Sc,
forth our situation; to state in al
frankness and all simplicity the OBJ,
legations and the reasons of oul
naval program. which is based or
needs whose reality cannot be doubt
| cd. And when we have laid before
you the sincere, definite and precise
reasons for our program, how could
we be suspected Of any secret de.
signs against which the very frank.
ness Of our explanations protests.
Wishes to Avoid Suspicfon.
"As to the myths, the imputations
to which 1 have referred as possibly
penetrating beyond the circle of the
powers here represented, I am as.
| tonished at the Interpretation put
upon them; I have said nothing
| need not insist on the fact-which is
ESPECIALLY aimed against Great Britain
And IL, on the contrary. I have out.
lined these fears very frankly to you
I = h. oo1 IN y, soI,
L have already alluded might some
time be laid AGAINST our common