The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-10-01
Put All the Cards On the Table

The hullahaloo over the secret naval accord be-
tween France and Great Britain continues to occupy
the front page of the press of Europe and the aen
ton OF League of Nations statesmen gathered al
Geneva.
The latest disclosures offer little new They tend
however to confirm the gist of the alleged pact al
ready recorded in this newspaper. That is to say
it appears to be based upon the assumption that in
return for French support of the British claim for
an unlimited number of small cruisers Britain will
support the French claim for an unlimited number
Of small submarines
This may, or may not be the case. The British
government is as mum while the controversy
RACES But if it is true, then Britain and France are
conspring to put the United States at serious dis
advantage reducing the Washington naval agreement
of 1922 to the proverbal scrap of paper.
The true intent of the Washington conference was
to establish fair ratio among leading navies of the
world On paper that is just what it did, with parity
for Britain and America. Actually, it limited the
tonnage of capital ships and aircraft carriers which
Britain wanted limited, and left the sky the limit
everything else.
Now, it appears Britain and France working
together to gain superiority for themselves in these
unlimited types of war vessels as against the United
tatesa manifest violation of the spirit of the agree
ment they entered into at Washington in 1922.
AS the liberal British newspaper the Manchester
Guardian pointed out cruisers and sub
marines 'are the categores of ships which the two
governments desire not diminution, but increase
of strength Having settled these matters to their
satisfaction, France and England proceed to deny the
satisfaction to the United States" which needs
not small cruisers, but large ones.
The principle of naval limitation by categories of
ships is sound quite the Guardian concludes but
it is absurd to suppose that it be made to apply
only to those classes of ships which the British
French do not want to build.
Just now, it may be said in passing British state
craft seems at rather low ebb. Seldom has it ap-
peared at worse advantage than in this affair Need
lessly it has aroused suspicious where world conf
dence is imperative.
1t has entered into secret deals where every ap-
pearance of secrecy should have been taboo It has
talked when it should have been silent and been
silent when it should have talked and when Uncle
Sam did not come running with loud hurrah at
the first suggestion of parley it was tacess enough
to appear peeved.
Commenting before the United States sent Ats
clean-cut note the subject of the British
naval understanding, British spokesman at Geneva
is quoted saying:
ST remember the days when America was too
proud to fight, but never heard of her being too
proud to write"
Nice, statesmanlike little wisecrack, but no more
to be expected of folks inviting us to party than
it measures up to the caliber of the men who made
the British empire.
Britain, France and the whole world are well aware
that America stands ready at any time to limit naval
tonnage on fair basis with the other powers. If
the others feel the way about it, all they have
to do is tc say and quit sitting around the inter-
national beard passing cards to one another under
the table.
They may mean well, but it looks bad and Uncle
Sam well may be pardoned for hesitating to sit IN.