The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1922-02-20

but for what France did the con-
ference would have outlawed the
submarine
But France again to the aston
ishment and dismay of the others,
took the position that not only
must she retain the submarines
which she now has but must have
the privilege of building as many
as the quota assigned to Great
Britain and the United States
namely, 10000 tons. Out OF this de-
mand on the part of France intense
feeling arose. 1t arose chiefly
among the British. but the Ameri-
cans shared II. The end OF II was
that the conference put no limits-
tion on the building OF submarines.
A great advance that the confer
ence would probably have made in
the direction of idealism and hu-
manity was made impossible by
Frances action.
Not only that, but France an
nounced that as to other auxiliary
craft she must have the right to
build the very considerable quaint
ity Of $4,000 tons. Here again the
result Of Frances action was that
the conference could put no limit
upon the quantity of auxiliary
craft.
Here. then. are three subjects
land armament. submarines. and
auxiliary craft-as to which the
conference was obliged to do moth
ing. As to all three, the sole cause
Of failure was France. But for
France the conference might have
been a 100 per cent success-might.
indeed, have swept beyond a 100 per
cent success.
This is a most serious position
for France to be in. 1t is not to
be condoned, and it will not be con-
doned. France herself has already
come to see the light. and the lead
ing French papers now announce
that the stand taken by their dele
gates at Washington was a serious
error.
These are the facts. and they are
not to be denied. France acted
ugly. and there is no use trying to
soften the fact. The better course.
by far, Is to let France understand
clearly how America feels about her
obstructing our great adventure in
idealism. and let her come to real
ize that the moral isolation in
which she now finds herself was
brought upon herself.
Held ms "Poor Relation
Not in Justification, nor even in
extenuation, but rather in explana-
ton. some things can be said.
France was invited to a conference
in which she was outranked by
three nations. As to these three
nations, France, historically, has
been the equal of one-Great Bri-
tain; and as to the others has been
superior. When France was one OF
America was merely a few millions
OF colonial roughnecks and Japan
was an entirely unconsidered fac
tor. That France felt panied by
this change in her relative status
can be understood. 1t does not jus
tify what she did, but to a degree
II explains IT. France Is the new
poor" among the nations. America
and Japan are the new rich"
France has all the sensitiveness Of
the new poor. She is the beneficiary
of a great quantity ofAorganized
charity on the part of America. She
Is our poor relation" and has the
pride that frequently goes with
that position. Out of these condi-
lions arose the fact that the French
at the conference seemed always to
be what New England folks call
in a state"
France bases her descent on the
sacrifices she suffered in the recent
war and in her previous war with
Germany. To degree this Is true.
But IL France were willing to search
her own heart more coldly. she would
realize that much of her descent has
been due to a cause within herself.
It has been due to her low birth rate.
When France fought Germany in 1870
each Of the combatants had the same
about forty millions. When
she again fought Germany in 1914
France still had but forty millions,
whereas Germany had nearly seventy
millions. This changed relation In
population was her principal weak
ness So long as the mothers of
other nations are willing to 30 further
in the sacrifices Of bearing and rear
ing children France must continue to
l. L.