Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-06
GIBSON SUCCESS
IN ROME DOUBTED
Paris Halls Work, but Feels
Hope Hinges on ItaIy's
New Naval Figures.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.

" wireless to The Star.
PARIS, France, November 6.--Rome
dispatches announcing that Hugh 8,
Gibson, American Ambassador to
Belgium has succeeded in persuadine
the Italians at last to do what they
refused to do throughout the London
Naval Conference, namely, to put down
independent figures regarding their
naval building program during the next
few years without regard to the prin-
ciple of parity with France, are re-
ceived here with great interest.
It Is felt that this American inter-
vention is in itself an event OF great
political importance and there Is
obviously every desire to show 9, con-
ciliatory attitude. As to the posSiplllIy
of actual results, much skepticisrn still
prevails. It all depends upon what ng-
ures italy produces.
other things being equal ana as long
as there are no more oeIlnlte SeCuIiSy
pacts than now exist, France lntenoS
n maintain q navy of some $4,000
tons. This navy Is computed as fol-
lows: Parity with Italy in the Mediter-
ranean. about 400 900 tons; parity with
Germany in the North Sea, about 144,-
600 tons; Colonial Service, about SO,OUO
tons; special coast defense, about 2o,OOo'
RepIacements Lead Program.
Most az the building which France
proposes 10 do over the next few years
consists OF replacement Of old ships. A
holiday In naval construction TO 1886
therefore Is unacceptable, In the nrst
place because owing to the superannua-
ted condition of part OF the French
navy a holiday would gradually increase
Italy's strength, and in the second
place because Germany, according 70
its new program, intends TO 60 right on
building pocket battleships
Similarly France will refuse an ar
ranrement under which France ana
Italy would both build the same amount
between now and 1886. Italy has FEWER
replacementS to make than France ana
would therefore, it is said, be relatively
strengthened.
Assuming, as the French do, that a
great general disarmament conference
will be held early in 1882, another posi-
bility would be a Franco-Italian agree
ment on building programs for the next
is months or two years. This would
be accountable to France, providing the
Italian figures are sufficiently lower than
the French and the categories OF the
intended building clearly specined.
Foreign Minister Aristide BRAND has
Informed both Great Britain and the
United States that he is quite ready
10 resume discussion with the Italians
either now or later This apparently
does not mean, however, that any i'm
mediate changes viii; be made In the
French building program, which, It u
understood, win be duly continued on
December /.
Two Possibilities Appear.
It is further confirmed that in case
the new Franco-It italian negotiations fail
France win be willing to negotiate with
Great Bratain its entry into four-powel
treaty, having Italy out, but providing
France with an escape clause against
possible Italian building.
Here two possibilities appear. The
first is that Great Britain accepts the
French figures of $4,000 tons. In thi
case tneke Is no difficulty. The secons
is that Great Britain insists this figure
Is too huh.
In this case the French are suggest,
ing that II Great Britain, as before thu
World war, Is willing to guarantee
France by q definite agreement agains
sudden attacks en- the French coast by the
German Navy thereby enabling the
French 10 concentrate the greater part
Of its feet In the Mediterranean, Their
France might be able to cut down by
100 900 tons or more.