Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13
SEES POSSIBLE FAILURE.
Three Nations Held Bound to Find
Unanimity Before Farley.

Three NATIONS k1clu DuuHu W Ehu
Unanimity Before Farley.
BY Radio to The Star.
ROME. October lathe International
problem which is facing the five powers
to participate in the proposed confer
ence in London next January looking
to a reduction in ornaments seems to be
taking a graver turn. If. in the inter-
vening three months before the con-
ference opens, France, Italy and Japan
have not found a unanimous solution
thereto, the naval conference Will be
failure. in the opinion of Gen. Giovanni
Marietta.
AT present." he said today, France
is not convinced of the necessity of
working in unison with Italy. yet unity
of action at The Hague and also at
Geneva has worked to the interests of
both nations. Such would be the case
at the present juncture."
The general expressed the belief that
only thus could the sister powers re-
sist the Anglo bloc and OBJ
tain advantages in the questions to be
discussed.
Sponsors No Figures.
sponsored any figures or expressed any
policy, but the French press shows a
tendency to insist on tonnage larger
than Italy'S. Italy is anxious to learn
the French official view. Her need for
a larger navy for purposes of defense
has been expressed on former occasions.
1t is an old saying that navies can be
offensive as we'll as defensive, but it
is pointed out here that large warships
are not the latter. but are primarily
offensive. It is set forth that over
and above her coast defense needs italy
has needs connected with her colonial
possessions.
Two hypothesis are considered ID
war between France and Italy and (2)
each power against another with allies
helping. In the first hypothesis the
entire fleet would have to be in the
Mediterranean for Italy's defense would
be mainly on sea. In the second hypo-
thesis, allied. say with Great Britain,
her superiority in naval defense would
be apparent With regard to protection
of the colonies it is unnecessary to be
an expert in naval strategy to realize
that the nation which goes to war
calls all the units of its navy to their
bases, otherwise commits a grave error.
Colonies tight the best way with the
help of limited number of craft.
\. Reason For Strategy.
WAACA Al 0AoOuooIOi OCIWCCA
Great Britain and the United States
the former stressed its necessity for
light cruisers for the protection of its
imperial highways, but this was con-
sidered here purely as reason for
naval strategy.
!. This, however, cannot be the case
with France as for this purpose, 1t
would be necessary to increase the
number of light cruisers, and in conse-
quence those of Great Britain, which
Is absurd. The last argument, namely.
the necessity of conducting defense on
modern lines cannot be sustained, 1t
is pointed out that no power would
place large naval forces down a coast
to defend the same seeing that there
are other means of achieving this end
in modern warfare. Even on this point
Italy needs quite as much pressing as
France. In the light OF fair criticism
there are no substantial reasons against
an equal navy for France and Italy.
The needs of the two countries are
largely similar. The reason why
France needs larger navy is psycho-
logical one. French public opinion is
not yet convinced that italy has grown
by reason of the great sacrifices she
has made, hence her needs are as i'm
portant as those of France.
Thus, concludes Gen. Marietta, a
clear and cordial understanding be-
tween the two peoples will result in a
moral union benefiting both nations.
DOWNRIGHT. 1927