Evening star., 1923-07-19
Frances Ratification of Naval
Treaty Is Commended.

Extreme qualification is expressed
by the editors of the nation over the
ratification by France of the naval
limitations treaty. 1t is agreed that
this is an excellent time for such
action in that it may cause both
France and England to stop. look
and listen" in their mad rush to at
tain the supremacy of the air. This,
too, in the face of the general admis-
sion that the treaty, as a matter of
fact, means very little when the
changed conditions which will pre-
vail in the next war'-and it is sur
prising how many people expect a
next warfare taken into considera-
tion.
while the agreement is of less i'm
portance than its more enthusiastic
friends would have the country be-
lieve, nevertheless it Is Of great
value" says the Indianapolis News.
This treaty marked a real advance
on the road to peace, and, taken with
the Pacific pact, means a great deal
to the world" The benefit that will
accrue to the United States through
this ratification, as the Albany
knickerbocker Press analyses it, is
We VIII bc eHdDleU 10 CledT away
the uncertainty that has surrounded
our own naval policy. A definite pro-
gram can now take the place of
! suspended animation that has ruled
for a year" Not only the United
the New York Tribune emphasizes,
now may bring their capital ship
strength within the limits set
Economically it is an excellent
move, the Hartford Times thinks, be-
tbs
treaty is an excellent device to ap-.
peal to the Frenchman, although as a
peace move it is of slight conse-
quence in their estimation" While
Frances delay in acting has been
closed" the Minneapolis Tribune
holds. "to the great qualification of
the other signatories who delivered
their ratifications long ago" So soon
as the actual "scrapping" takes place,
IAN implied contract for future peace
will exist with all the world, but 1t
would be better news if we could
be sure that it means a change of
affecting the other nations as well
as itself and new attitude and spirit
toward obligations on which the
peace of at least its own continent
rests" But the 'Danville Bee is in
clined to suggest whether the Wash
4
to battleship curtailment will really
sterilize the seeds of war is doubt
full with competition in another dead
ly fornl-in the air-already growing
apace."
It should be remembered in this
connection. the Hoboken Observer
points out, that "the ratification does
not mean that the nations In the
treaty will have weak sea power, for
probably all will have navies up to
he vi OFT
The pact will check the brisk and
costly competition In construction and
be an immense saving to all the
powers in. the cost of ships and equip
ment and maintaining forces to man
them" Because. this is so, the Phila-
delphia Bulletin argues. ''as a matter
of fact, it had been folly on the part
of France to hesitate at all as to rati-
fication. She could not exceed the
ratio of battleships allotted to her
want to exceed that, allotment. And
neither France nor any other nation
could afford to refuse Endorsement to
the spirit and purposes Of the treaty"
The Chattanooga News Is convinced
at doesn't seem to make any diff
ference whether or not the naval
treaty was ratified. The competition
is now in the air rather than the sea
No disarmament agreement is Of any
avail unless 1t includes all the war
powers of all large nations" This
likewise is the position taken by the
Fort Wayne Journal Gazette. which
feels "it must be manifest that little
was actually done by the much adver-
tised and over-advertised Washington
conference. Japan is building unpro-
hibited war vessels feverishly. France
has lost nothing. But America is
pledged to leave her possessions In
the Pacific, naked to her enemies, un-.
fortified Poincare took pains to ex
plain to his people that France. is
limited only as to offensive means,
while nothings1 is done to curtail her