Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-02-24
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
France and Italy Reject
Coolidge Proposal for
Naval Limitation.
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARD

DOLTTELY but firmly, France and
Italy have said "No" to President
Coolidge's proposal that the five sigma
tory powers of the Washington treaty
negotiate further reduction in naval
ornaments by limiting cruisers, sub
marines and other auxiliary vessels.
Great Britain has showed approval Of
the plan, but delayed her formal reply
until the dominions could be consult
ed Premier Wakatsuki said the Japa-
nese government was strongly In ia
vor of Mr.. Coolidges move and would
do everything In its power to aid, but
he intimated that Japan would not
agree to 5-5-3 ratio for cruisers and
other lighter vessels.
The French government pronounced
the American plan impracticable and
In conflict with the aims and accom-
pllshments of the preparatory dis
armament commission of the League
of Nations 1t expressed the opinion
that an agreement on further naval
ornaments limitation entered into by
the five powers Independently of the
league undertaking for comprehensive
Limitation of land. sea and air arma-
ments would compromise the latter
project. The basic reason for Frances
rejection Of the plan is her determi-
nation to make naval limitation de-
pendent upon agreements as to the
limitation of land and air forces. This
she has consistently demanded at the
Geneva conference. She Is bound to
maintain her submarine strength as a
defense against the powerful British
navy and the growing Italian fleet,
and while those are as strong as they
are she refuses to decrease her land
forces.
Because France is her potential
rival In the Mediterranean, Italy also
rejects the Coolidge proposal. She
declines to participate in any confer
ence on limitation so long as France
refuses to limit lighter naval craft,
especially submarines. She cannot
at present compete with France in
building cruisers and so must coun-
ter with plenty of submarines.
Washington dispatches said that
Mr.. Coolidge, realizing now that a
five-power parley was out of the ques-
ton, was considering an alternative
proposal that the United States, Great
Britain and Japan get together and
extend the $50 limitation ratio to
cruisers and other light naval craft.
Admiral Jones' chairman of the navy's
general board, has devised formula
that he believes would satisfy the
British even with France left out Of
the agreement. He proposes pro-
viso to the limitation to the effect that
any party to the agreement may eX-
coed the maximum laid down when
ever it considers Its security men
aced by the naval building operations
of another power.
THAT Germany, with its cleverly
L constructed reichswehr, has evaded
the efforts of the powers to effect its
disarmament is the opinion of the
military authorities Of both France
and Belgium. Laying before the
French chamber of deputies the gov
ernment's plans for reorganization of
the army on a basis of u months of
efficient, concentrated service of con-
scripts, Minister of War Painleve,
Marshal Foch and General Debeney,
chief of staff, described Germany's
great potential military strength and
the dangers involved. Minister of De
Tense de BroquevilIe Of Belgium was
still more of an alarmist. Asking par
lament for frontier Notifications, he
produced agures to show that the
reichswehr is formidable military
force with the most modern of arma-
ments. 1t consists of 100000 soldiers
and $4,000 sailors and renews itself
every four years, and therefore 200,-
600 reservists are now available. Pre-
mier Vandervelde said Germany SIS
capable of putting millions of we'll
equipped men in the field In a short
time, while the recent completion OF
the German aviation cartel is the last