Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-01-05
A Guarantee for France

It HERE is possibility OF DEVELOPMENTS
al the meeting of the Allied Supreme
Council at Cannes this week that will ma
terally facilitate the effort AT reaching
agreement on naval disarmament at the
conference i'll Washington, All of the pow
ers represented in the conference have ac-
copied i'll principle the rules submitted by
Mr.. Root relative to limitation of subma7
rine warfare, while similar acceptance has
been made regarding the size and arma-
mcnt OF auxiliary vessels. The French
Italian and Japanese delegations however
await advices from their home governments
before consenting TO take up the question
ct applying this principle i'll concrete detail
to the various problems to be worked out
The attitude of France however is the key
to the whole situation. If Franco can be
won over. Italy will readily fall into line.
and the dread of national isolation would
constrain Japan to yield.
While France has been charged with i'm
perialistic ambitions, fair critics of its atti-
tude will concede that its ambition in that
respect is not OF the kind which induced
Germany to precipitate the world war but
rather it desires TO strengthen it's position
soieiy Tor defensive purposes against future
menace TO its peace and security With
proper guarantees for safety, SO that it can
in assured security turn all of its energies
to the working out OF domestic problems
France would as readily dissociate itself
nom all thoughts OF war as the most peace
loving nation represented in the conferences
but France will refuse TO strip itself of the
powerful armor in which it now is clothed
until it obtains such guarantee in some,
form
That the failure of America and Great
britain to stand by the pact made at Yer
nf oh,
is the real reason for the French attitude
on submarines is clearly revealed bv the
slshihcant statement OF Premier BRAND in
the London Daily Mail on the eve of his
departure for the meeting OF the Supreme
Council al Cannes. II is made plain in this
statement that the price for the abandon
ment by France of its position, which il,
as every one else, knows blocks the path
OF peace and progress, is hard and fast
compact with Great Britain guaranteeing
france against attack. All effort at con-
coaIfnent OF the fact that new and definite
English alliance of character to allay
French apprehensions of a revivitied and
miltaristic Germany in the future is the
goal AT which France aims is thrown away
by the French Premier, who openly makes
the statement that such alliance is the key
TO the whole situation. Once this guarantee
Is given, it not only viii! abandon its posi-
ton in the conference, but will cooperate
fully with Great Britain in dealing with both
Germany and Russia along reconstruction
lines. in which necessarily there would be
relaxing OF demands as TO PREPARATIONS
payments.
British sentiment is clearly opposed to
The giving of such guarantee But is it
wise in Withholding ii? When one reflects
on the consequences to both nations, in the
way OF increased costs for both naval and
military preparedness in the absence OF
such an understanding being reached and
France holding to her present attitude. IL
is not inconceiyable that there may he de-
Veiopments at Cannes Of the very greatest
Importance 10 both the economic and poll
Teal stability OF the world