Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-23
FIVE POWERS EXPLAIN NEEDS
IN OPENING BUSINESS SESSION
Relatively Is Keynote of Speakers Who
Outline Naval Demands in
General Terms.

by three oceans and has larger and
more dispersed overseas territory than
any other power except Great Britain,
amounting to six times larger than
those of The Netherlands, the next big
gest colonial empire. To link these sew
eral different groups of oversee terri
tory, both with respect to tranSoceanic
trade and particularly military necesSi-
ties, France requires a strong navy.
Must Move Forces.
Tardieu closed his impressive state
Inent on French naval needs by stress
ing the obligation resting. upon her to
be able to transfer her forces at any
time from one part of the empire to
another. He closed with the suggestion
that France can cut down her navy by
that extent to which the world at large
accords her security"
Premier Macdonald attuned his song
to the relatively keynote sounded by
Secretary Stimson and Premier Tardieu.
He coined a new epigrammatic epitone
of Britain's naval policy-"the will to
live" He asked the conference to re-
island within 20 miles of Europe Naval
power under such conditions, he in
sisted, is "a life and death problem
for our people Their food and eco
nomic necessities are such that Great
Britain must have free access to the
seas Of the whole world The British
maintain no acquisitive purposes. The
foundation of the British navy policy
Is to satisfy nationals with the will to
live" Without identifying, Prime Min
lister Macdonald explained that British
naval power requires three separate
groups, "a fact which makes our posi-
ton none the easier"
What the premier means, Of course,
Is, first, the necessity to defend British
home waters: secondly. the necessity to
guard the route to India and the
Mediterranean, and, third. the neces-
sity to maintain adequate sea forces
in the Far East.
Macdonald invited the conference TO
consider deeply the Importance Of the
psychological factor" whereby he
can be assured the seas win not be
blocked it would be much easier to
reduce the British navy.
Doesn't Discuss Parity.
Premier Macdonald did not discuss
Americas demand for parity nor did
he indicate whether his mentioning
free seas is to be construed as q refer
ence to the ticklish issue Of freedom
of the seas"
Foreign Minister Grandi's presenta-
ton Of Italy's needs was brief, but
pointed. Her geographical position and
economic requirements compel her to
ask for a navy equal to the strongest
feet Of any continental European power.
Italy, In other words, insists on the
same strength at sea as France has.
Italians favor maximum of naval re-
6uction, Mussolinis representative de-
clared. and leave it to the other powers
to decide the scale whereupon the re-
duction shall take place. But Italy
always reserves the right to regulate
her own naval strength by that Of
others. Thereupon Grand, without
mentioning France. flung down the
italian challenge that no other CONT
mental navy must be more powerful
than that which flies the nag of the
House of Savoy.
The chief Italian delegate called at
tention to the length Of Italys coast
line, the proximity of many of her
cities to the sea and her vital depend
ency upon foreign supplies. food and
raw materials.
Former Premier Wakatsuki, head OF
the japanese delegation, occupied less
time than any OF his four colleagues,
when Japan's turn came. The brevity
OF his remarks may be regarded rs the