The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-12-30
Ex-Pres. POincaire of France
Says conference of OratOry."
In Published Article Says Too
Much IdeaIism Cause.
LONDON ASSAILS FRENCH
British Papers Stress National
SeIfishness of Farley Demands.
See Attempt by Root to Make
Submarines Worthless.

Par1Ss Dec. SUI Ormer RreSluenl
Raymond Poincare of the French re-
public, writing in the Petit Bleu to-
day, expressed the opinion that the
Washington conference has been a
failure.
'At Washington" said NJ. Poincare.
after wonderful oratory in the pie
nary sessions the commissions got to
work and then a terrible emptiness
revealed itself. The speeches were ex-
ceHent, but the results were nil.
Too Much IdeaIlsm.
"Our friends at Washington and
Londan unhappily seem to forget the
rapid reawakening of the detestable
German instincts. Illusions, myth and
the fumes of vague idealism still OBJ
scure the realities which before long
viii become dangerous"
NJ. Poincare continued:
"Once again the disposition OF
America. commanded her interests.
THE only mistake we made was
that we allowed ourselves to be nursed
into foolish hopes and allowed our
selves to be blinded by sentimental
politics. We were first fIattered by
being associated with the Pacific
agreement and then were told by the
American government that the Pacific
entente did not constitute the obliga-
ton of armed interference in the case
of conflict.
Tried to Force Concessions.
Then were forced into concessions
on the naval program. The allies com
pletely forget that during the war. in
the interest of maintaining the allied
armies, we stopped shipbuilding be-
cause it was maintained by the British
that they saw a menace in it.
Can the people be stupid enough
to suppose we have forgotten the fra
ternity of arms during the war or that
we would be foolish enough to try and
fight the biggest naval power in the
world %
London AssaiIs French.
London, Dec. 80 (by the A. P.)-
Efforts at the Washington confer
ence to curb the use Of the subma
rine as a weapon and Frances claim
for a large Undersea fleet continue to
be absorbing topics in England. To-
days newspapers devoted several
columns to reports of the conference
proceedings and criticisms from the
American press and publish lengthy
editorials on the developments.
The majority of the editorial writ
ers assail the French attitude which
the Daily Telegraph says\ faces the
! world with the possibility of the
worldwide orientation of naval policy
away from the capital ship and tow
ard the submarine"
The Daily News condemns Frances
decision rs the disastrous debasing of
the standard of international moral
ity,'' and the Daily Chronicle says
Frances behavior cannot be regarded
as other than unfriendly to Great
Britain.
The Morning Post on the other
hand derides the liberal newspapers
criticisms, and adds: 1T is foolish.
because France refuses to fall in i'm
mediately with the British proposal,
to threaten her with outlawry. The
British nation is not yet prepared to
place France outside the pale of civ
ilization."
Neco5sity Not Blood Thirst.
The Post. while believing that Ar
thur J. Balfour expressed the general
sentiment in Great Britain when he
regretted that an agreement as to sub
marine ratios had not been reached,
urges the statesmen and journalists to
put themselves iR-France's place and
consider the French point of view
which '.is not due to original sin, but
geographical necessity; it is not blood
thfrstiness but merely realism"
Elihu Roots proposal for regulation
OF the use of submarines receives
much attention. The Daily Chronicle
comments. 1T IS difficult to believe
that Mr.. Root is not in humane col
lusion with Mr.. Balfour, for the whole
object of his proposals is to make it
not worth while to build submarines
for the destruction of commerce" The
newspaper asks. however, whether
such rules could be enforced if
adoDtPd