Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-09
FRENCH DEMANDS
PUZZLE DELEGATES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Relatively
Also Is Major Problem Con-
/ fronting Conference.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE,
stNh Correspondent Of the Star.

0lplOmaCy al LONDON Tor the immediate
future will be concentrated on what is
now recognized 10 be the key to the
whole Naval Conference situation.
1t is what Secretary Stimson described
In his ice-breaking offer to Great
Britain and Japan IS the italian and
French problem" If a five-power
agreement is to be achieved, that prob
lem must be settled. II it can not be
settled, . three-power treaty between
America. Great Britain and Japan is a
possibility.
The American delegation would con-
slider such result purely Pyrrhic VIC
tory-a victory won at a great loss. It
would arrest naval competition only for
the time being. The British would
enter into such an agreement on the
strict condition that they were left at
liberty to expand their cruiser tonnage
TO Whatever extent French construction
required them to do.
America Faces Problem.
As the United States is irrevocablv
committed to the doctrine of parity
with Britain. this would sooner or later
compel expansion of our own cruiser
program. Japan would be correspond
mgly affected, no matter whether she
emerges from the London Conference
with her 10-10-7 ambitions gratif1ed
or not. While the Franco italian con-
troYersy thus far overshadows the en-
tire future course of the Conference
the American Celegations negotiations
with the Japanese remain an obstr,lc-
ton which also must be cleared away
before real progress can be recorded.
The Americans sincerely believe that
the national interests of both countries
would be thoroughly safeguarded by the
solution which Secretary Stimson has
laid before Reiiiro Wakatsuki, head of
the Japanese delegation. Broadly sneak
ing, this would permit Japan to slightly
exceed the 10-10-6 ratio in one or two
categories Of ships other than battle-
ships, aircraft carriers and lo.O0O-ton
cruisers. In formulating its suggestion
the American delegation eliminated
from its conception the consideration of
any exact mathematical quota and en-
oeaVored instead to find a formula by
winch give and take would be mutually
acceptable.
japanese Politics Present Issue.
Domestic japanese political consider
atoms are for the moment Apparently
an msuperable barrier to a Japanese
American agreement at London. The
Mlnseito party, to which the principal
TOXIC delegates, former Premier Wakat-
suki and Naval Minister Takarabe,
both belong, is in power, but the non
partisan Japanese privy council holds
the sword Of Damocles over their
heads.
IL was the privy council which
brought about the downfall of the
Wekatsuki government The council
Is still filled with his foes, who are in
no mood to approve anything done at
London remotely resembling Japanese
surrender" The privy council has
exactly the same veto power over trea-
ties as the United States Senate Yields.
Senator Reed is Secretary Stimson's
chief emiSSary in dealing with the
japanese delegation. Wakatsuki's coll
leagues have acquired the greatest re-
spect for the skillful but conciliatory
spirit in which the Pennsylvania is
conducting Americas case. The chief
MatsuoAtra, whom Reed knew well in
WashiuRkon.
The Americans will lend all the me-
diatoty influence at their command to
enect 2 solution of the Franco-Italian
differences. It viii be q more potent
Influence than anything the British
could offer, because the Anglo French
atmosphere at the conferenc is not
oyercharged with cordially.
French Play Shrewd Game.
The French are playing an exceed
ingly shrewd game under the aStute
direction Of Premier Tardieu. Their
present attitude is that of no parity
with Italy under any circumstances
unless the French get some kind Of
guarantees"
r. In nutshell. the French declare
that they could not tolerate the idea
Of an Italian feet which can be con-
centrated in home waters while the
French feet is scattered all over the
world looking after Frances colonial
empire. Such an Italian feet. accord
ing to French statesmen, could inter-
fere with the transportation of troops
from French African colonies and thus
paralyze Frances military power. The
French also claim that they cannot
ignore the new German navy. AS
don knows, including the French them
selves, this is Tardieu's asking price,
but not necessarily his taking price.
Recent events at the final Hague
separations conference are cited in
American quarters as possibly pointing
the way jout of the Franco-Italian
impasse. Tardieu went to The Hague
in January demanding for France the
outright privilege of reinvading Ger
many If the Reichs defaulted in repa-
ratlons payments. He stood out vail
antly for this contention without quail
hcations. But just when it looked as
II the French demands would at the
eleventh hour wreck the delicately con-
structed and beneficent Young plan,
Tardieu agreed to qualification.
Believe France Can Be Appeased.
France accepted a proviso that de-
Iauit on me part OF Germany must be
Wlllful default, and then finally went
even farther and consented that 1t
would have to be proved to the salts
faction of the World Court at The
Hague that the default actually was
willful before French troops were au-
thorized to cross the Rhine. Thus was
Paris insistence upon reparations
guarantees" eventually gratifed.
Certain members of the American
delegation here seem to believe that
with the good will prevalent all around,
Tardieu's clamor for guarantees" can
be appeased just as it was at The
Hague. There is no suggestion that
United States participation in the
French guarantees is within the range
OF probabilities. The exact contrary is
the case.
Our intreset in any negotiations look
Ing to settlement of the all dominat-
ing French-Italian parity problem will
be confined TO the exercise of our good
ofnces. It is an American problem only
IN the sense that it is the key TO the
situation.
Despite the acknowledged gravity of
the Franco-Italisn and Japanese
American issues. the fourth week end
of the conference is passing amid an
atmosphere Of the strongest hope that
the delegates have yet experienced.
Two Snags Face Conference.
The first step in the direction of re-
moving snags is to drag them into the
open. Secretary Stimson's clear-cut
delineation of the conferences major
rrOblernS has done that He aecono.