The New York herald., 1922-02-08
DISTRUST OF PARIS
IS LAID TO BERLIN
Sarraut UphOlds Contention
of His Country for Army
and Navy.
SEES CLOUD PASS OVER
Delegate to Arms Farley, Guest
at Dinner Here, Fears Ger
man Comeback.

Albert Sarraut. head of the French
delegation to the Conference on Limita-
ton of Armament, offered a defense
last night, and an explanation of
Frances aims at the conference and
why she sought to retain the strength
Of her army and navy. In an address
at an informal dinner at the University
Club, where he wa sthe guest of the
France America Society, M. Sarraut
discussed what he described as a pass
ing cloud" on Granco- American friend
snip. This feeling, he said. was sub
siding and he felt assured of the "ster-
ling loyalty" of interest between the
two countries.
The legend of French Imperialism
and mlitarism." he said, was fabricated
in Germany with consummate skill and
was intended 10 travel around the
world when NJ. BRAND came to sit
at the conference table" continued NJ
Sarraut. che found there-nay, he felt
behind him as an invisible presence. the
faxed spectcr of a France gone mad for
war. threatening both the peace of the
world and her own economic stability"
This feeling changed asserted NJ. Sar-
raut, but it died hard and it shifted
from the question of land armament to
the naval field. He added:
IL did not for one instant believe that
the great American public could ever
take seriously either from tie military
or the naval viewpoint the alleged inn
perialstic aims of France. My country
spurns with energy and horror that
hateful dream of supremacy which the
Allies by their common herosm crushed
forever with German ambition.
'"rhe fact that France. which has been
for centuries a maritime and naval
Power. needs AN adequate fleet for her
own existence and that of her army
seemed so obvious, so logical. so striking
that the idea never occurred to me to
justify our naval plans in advance. l
ought perhaps to have then laid before
public opinion clear and definite reasons,
an indisputabe demonstration which in
the eyes of all worthy men would have
soon disposed of the specious argument
raised against us"
NJ. Sarraut described the extent of
French colonial possessions. and urged
that it was necessary for her to main
tain communication with the various
parts OF the realm for commercial pur-
poses. Or for war if that arrived.
If the soldiers from Algeria and Mo-
rocco had not arrived quickly, he con-
tended. the battle of the Marne might
have been lost lie referred to arGu-
ments that France had nothing TO fear
and that Germany. her only enemy, was
crushed
This is the answer" he exclaimed. "I
am we'll aware that the German squad
rons lie deep at Scapa Flow and that
there is no immediate danger for us, not
to-day. But it might be tomorrow,
and our duty Is TO contemplate what to-
morrow may bring u.s.
The Treaty of Versailles left Germany
military feet. said NJ. Sarraut, and
the twelve cruisers and warships she
now possesses can he soon replaced In
a few years, when the German merchant
fleet is reconstructed. he predicted, she
will be able to transform them into aux
iliary cruisers and again be in IL posi-
t!on to attack troop ships, even from
America.
Mr.. Sarraut insisted that France will
ingly had signed the Root resolutions
and the Balfour amendment. and said
"And now what are We reproachcd forp
France" he said. will not become dis
heartened in the defensse of her most
legitimate rights
DR.. Nicholas Murray Butler. president
of the society, who introduced NJ. Sar-
raut. said that France in the late war
had gone through shock that 'no ma
tion on earth could experience twice and
live"