Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-19
FRANCE MAY BALK
At ENTERING NAVAL
. REDUCTION PARLEY
Participation, Even if Decided
Upon, Might Be Limited to
InconcIusive Role.
STIFFENING OF OPINION
AGAINST MEETING SEEN
Fears Expressed That U, S.-Anglo
Accord Will Be Mainly to
Their Own Advantage.

b. the Associated Press.
PARIS, September 19.-If the opinion
expressed in the we'll informed after
noon newspaper LIE Temps today proves
to be the official French view, France
may never participate in the projected
five-power naval conference except to
discuss naval principles which would
be embodied in later general disarma-
nlent treaty at Geneva.
This influential newspaper close to
the Quai D'Orsay, asserts that just as
any Anglo-American naval accord can
only be tentative, so by the same token
any five-power agreement would be.
French apprehension regarding the
character of the prospective accord is
increasing to such an extent as to con-
stitute a real threat to the complete
success not only of the preliminary
agreement between the United States
and Great Britain, but of the larger
issue of a general move for reduction
Of armament.
Fears Widely Stated.
French fears voiced on public plat
forms, in the press and by authorita-
tive circles are echoed from other parts
of the continent chiefly Geneva. From
Germany has come full-hearted ap-
proval of the trend of affairs regarding
ornaments. but French spokesmen inti-
mate lesser continental powers share
concern regarding developments which
1t is feared might be beneficial to former
enemy nations of the World War or
which would, by means of a far-reach-
ing Anglo-American political entente,
strengthen British political power in
Europe and other parts of the world, at
the expense of legitimate French de-
Velopment as a great world power
French observers are watching Gen.
eva as closely as London and Wash
ington for moves likely to work out
unfavorably for France. One is seen in
Viscount Cecil's proposal before the
League of Nations that the question of
trained army reserves, always a deli
cate point on the continent. must be
ultimately considered in the general
disarmament scheme.
In forceful language the Temps asks
exactly what America and Britain are
driving at In the proposed naval ac-
cord.
Some Confusion Seen.
The disarmament situation is devel-
oping in confusion, says the newspaper,
and the Labor government intends
giving an entirely different character
to the general foreign policy OF Great
Britain.
Similar alarm was expressed by the
newspaper LIntransigeant which char
acterized Lord Robert Cecil'S move at
Geneva to reopen the question of lin1i-
tation of trained army reserves as
bold effort to weaken French national
defense.
"On the sea there is an Anglo-Saxon
supremacy which it is now planned to
render legal and definitive. But on
land England desires an anarchy which
will permit her to reign supreme
though dividing Others" says LIN
transigeant.
Supports French View.
The French view is enthusiastically
supported by the Journal de Geneve,
which goes so far as to express doubt
whether a five-power conference will
take place. saying it is not at all sure
that France and italy, which refused
to participate in the 1927 Geneva con-
ference, will agree to be represented.
The Geneva paper says that in
France, and no doubt in italy and
Japan, Great Britain and America
in expressing the desire to eliminate
submarines from naval armaments are
trying to reach an agreement at the
expense of their partners
From Germany, as indicated by the
semi-official Diplomatische Politische
Korrespondenz, the opposite view is ex-
pressed; "the remaining difference be-
tween the two Anglo-Saxon powers need
not be regarded too seriously" says the
newspaper. Complete security, how
ever, lies only in complete disarmament.
The governments and the press should
do their utmost to convince their peo-
Piles of this fact. America and Great
Britain have set an example"