The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-09-08
KEEPING UP
With
THE NE WIS,
By LUDWELL DENNY

pI6SS SUITES 1IOlIl GOlANOAA VAANN
Great Britain is getting ready 10
throw overheard the senli-secret
Anglo French naval agreement have
increased rather than allayed Wash.
ington's suspicion.
That agreement, which mauY-
European and American observers =.
interpret as a revival of the Anglo
French military and naval alliance
this time aimed in part directly
against the United Subsequently,
has done more to injure relationSrF1
between the two English speaking
powers than anything since the 81
World War.
This situation will be the occasion
for an important series of confer
ences here between President Cool
idge and Secretary Of State Kellogg -,
on the return of the former from
Wisconsin and of the latter from
Europe.
It is clear beyond question that ,.
this governments resentment over =
| the Anglo French agreement caused
Kellogg deliberately to refrain from
visiting London and going from
Paris to ireland instead.
1t is equally clear that, following !.
the Coolidge kellogg conferences
the State Department will express
to London its strong disapproval. 81,
Whether this will be done through "
a formal note or by informal con-
versations still is to be decided.
The absence of rejoicing here over
| London reports that the agreement.
or alliance is now dead as result
of American opposition is explained
by the common knowledge that the .
London government is under slash
| ing and almost unanimous attack
at home for this "blunder," which
now makes denials and apparent =-.
retreat politically expedient.
! Obviously the conservative gov
eminent, with a close general cleo
ton in the offlng, must make some :
sort of gesture soon or late to quiet
British popular protest. IN.
But diplomats point out that such b.
basic Anglo-French agreement, re-
sulting from long and patient nego-
tiations and revamping OF policy 4,
over a period of many months, can
not and will not be killed in day
by official gestures and announce
mentS to meet domestic and foreign
criticism. - p
THERE are believed to be two
i parts to this much discussed
Anglo-French naval record. Neither
has been made public. And only =.
one part has been communicated
to the State Department. ~
That part Of the agreement adj
mitted by the London government
to the State Department provides
for limitation of large cruisers re-
uuired by the United States and
for no limitation on smaller cruis-
ers used by Great Britain with her 90.
world-encircling chain Of naval
bases.
In obtaining French support TO
force through such a limitation"
program in the next naval confer
ence, Great Britain is trying to
reverse and destroy the whole sys-
tenn of limitation by classes of ships
which all the powers accepted in =
the Washington treaty, and upon nN
which American parity and security
depend, it is said.
Under the Washington treaty, 4.
capital ships are limited by total
tonnage, as the United States then =
and now desires to limit cruisers,
This system would give Great Bril-
tain and the United States the right.
to build and maintain equal cruiser,
tonnage, but to apportion that tonun
mage in the size of ships required
| by the individual government. -
For reason Of empire tactics and
bases, Great Britain prefers to have
a large number of light cruisers
rather than a small number of
larger cruisers. Under the new &C
cord, France will stand with Britain
to prevent any limitation whatever
on six-inch gun light cruisers-that-
is, under $500 tons-or on subma- :
rines under 600 tons.
The limitation would be only on
eight-inch gun cruisers from 1880 d
to 10000 tons, such as are used by
the United States, and on long
range submarines. .,
! = a
ITO justify their demand for un- a
Il limited light cruisers the Britt =
ish argue that such ships UNDER
1900 tons and carrying only SIX
inch guns are only defensive
craft. teeww
The American admirals in reply
have warned the State Department
that at Jutland, the greatest mod
ern naval battle, the bulk of both
German and British cruiser forces
consisted of ships of $500 tons or r.
less, carrying siX-inch guns or less.
In the British German battle of
Coronel off Chile, all the British
ships were light cruisers with six
inch guns or less, and the most ef--..
fective sea raider of the World War, -
the German Emden, was light
cruiser of 5000 tons, carrying four
inch guns.
In addition to this known but UNI
published part of the Anglo-French
accord, which is so completely un-
satisfactory to the Washington Gov q
eminent. there is what is generally q
believed to be a secret part in which y
Great Britain is reported ready to
defend the French military hege-
mony system, including conscrip-
ton
This is the part which has created
such a furore in Germany and
italy and which. if put into ef----
feet. can block European military
Invitation