Evening star., 1923-04-02
5l,0D0,o)D FRANCS
T0M0DERN|zE NAVY
France = Expending That
Amount in 0verhauling
+ Six Capital Ships.
PROGRAM is EXPLAINED
PROGRAM is EXPLAINED
Minister of Marine Discusses Sub
ject-Says Government Seeks to
Ratify Washington "Accords.
ny the Associated Pres

aI,uU0,Gc0 francs in mOQtrnizlNg her
sin capital ships under the govern
ments Interpretation. Of the WASH
inSton naval accords Al the request
OF the Associated Press. the minister
OF marine, Flanlinius Raiberi. today
explained AZ length precisely what is
beng done
You ask me two questions lie
said, 'onc relative to the changes IN
the old ships and the other about
ratification Of the Washington naval
treaties.
The first subject is dealt with in
the first paragraph OF section | Of
The third part OF the Washington
treaty upon the limitation of naval
armamtntS This paragraph author
!zeS the contracting powers TO in
crease the defensive power of their
ships against submarine and aerial
attacks by additional lateral caissonS
and protecting bridges provided the
tonnage rs not increased more than
5000 tons.
entitled to Increase Gun Caiiber.
AS To artillery. the treaty forbids
any change in the number. caliber
ana general type of the mounting of
ne UNITS OF princip2l armament.
However recognizing the special
situation of France. which Possesses
only old units-aS She ceased to con-
struct since the war-she is autho-
Flsed, as Italy, 10 increase the caliber
OF the guns of her battleships pro-
Tided the caliber bore uoes not ex-
coed sixteen inches
France has Conformed strictly to
theSe provisions, even before ratIiy-
ing the treaty The only modification
or her armament she ContempIateS is
mat which consists in increasing the
angle OF eieN alton of the guns on all
her battleships, thereby increasing
their range. and TO moderniZe firing
methods.
1t was in 1916. or the battleship
Danton. tsunk by a submarine III the
mediterranean. that We began the
transformation of artillery now under
way. This was. uecessItaled by the
short range possible with our pre-
war gun mountlnSs. We could have
taken advantage of the right given
US by the Washington treaty to sup
nlement these changes by increasing
The caiiber. We preferred. however,
not to change anything from the pro-
gram outlined in 1916. and we do not
contemplate an increase in caliber,
although the Washington treaty eX-
pressly recognizes our right to do so.
Washington "Accords" Discussed.
Il come to the second question. The
government has asked parliament to
ratify the Washington accords. If
ratification of these treaties has not
yet been effected. despite the govern
lnentS efforts the reasons therefor
can be found in the development of
the budget debate. which has occu-
pied the greatest part OF the cham.
ber's time; to the large number of
interpretations, to discussion of ur-
gent measures of general interest.
such as the rent law, and. finally, TO
the serious illness of. the eminent re-
porter of the naval treaty, NJ. Guer-
nisr.
HE fortunately is restored to good
health now. and the government en-
poets to ask that discussion of the
Washington. accords be put on the
program of the chamber as soon as
the foreign affairs commission sub
nlitS it's report when parliament re-
cCuvenes after the Easter vacation.
But, even before ratification,
France, who in 1914 preceded the
other nations in naval armament linn
ilation BY suspending all construc
tion. has applied the Washington ac-
cords in advance, as If she already
had ratified them
The naval law Of April 10. 1922,
which the Senate discussed imme-
same time IL authorized construction
of several light units definitely con-
nrmed the StoppaSe of construction
"f five 25,0oo-ton battleships of the
Normandle type, work on which had
been suspended since 1914, and which
were so per cent completed.
The French delegates 10 the
league of nations have been in
port the plan to extend the Washing
ton naval accords to the non-signa-
tory powers.
Cites Evidence of Good Faith.
We have maintained, as l Just ex-
planned, our 1916 modernizatiou pro
gram in spite Of the much greater
freedom allowed us under the treaty.
But the most certain proof we have
given of our intention to ratify the
Washington treaty was the filing Of
The bill for Frances naval program
IN the chamber on March s.
This measure is intended TO replace
the law of 1912. which is still in ef-
feet and which would have given
US. it the war had not interfered
twenty-eight battleshtps, twenty
ninety-four submarines
Intended TO comply with the nee
sities OF the present time. this bill
had been drawn within the limits of
the Washington accords, ratification
Of which it contemplates and whose
provisions IT applies in advance. As
compared with the law of 1912 and
the feet existing in 1914 it makes
considerable progress in the reduction
of naval armanents.
The preamble of this bill takes
care to set out that, unless absolute
ly compelled BY circumstances, we do
not intend to avail ourselves OF the
freedom to begin replacement OF our
battle fleet in 1927.
Seeks Early Ratification.
America then can see that the
French governments only wish is to
obtain soon as possible parlia-
mentS approval OF the WASHINGTON
accords, and thus give striking evil
dence of its appreciation OF the lofty
peace ideals that inspired the gov
ernment of the United States when
it took the initiative of summonins
The conference that led to these ac-
cords.
France has gone as far as She
can in the limitation of her naval
power. She could not go further
without giving up having a navy, and
she could not give up having a navy.
without condemninG herself to die,
for France is no longer the little bit
of Europe made illustrious by the
glory of many centuries and whose
soil was recently sanctified by the
diers who fell by the side of ours for
The worlds liberty.
Beyond the seas there has been
horn q new France. This new
France covers an immense stretch of
Ier:itory in Asia and Africa. and it
testifes to the peaceful, civilizing
genius of the France which made a
nation of 1oo.000.000 and accom-
plshed one of the best efforts of
man."
Tne minister here spoke of. the
beauties of IndoChina, Madagascar.
Western Africa. Tunis. Algeria and
Morocco, composing the French colo
nies, and the necessity of maintain
ing uninterrupted communl lcation
with them.
Vital Rale Of Nnyy