Evening star., 1930-10-31
G|bSON-TARD|EU +
TALK ENCOURAGING
Ambassador Explains Amer
ica's Views Regarding
Franco-Ita Dispute.

IContinued From First Page.)
this country intends playing and Is now
believed to be more willingly disposed
toward finding a solution to end the
dangerous naval controversy France is
having with Italy.
Summary of Situation.
The situation between the two coun-
tries Is at present as follows: During
the London Conference Italy stood pat
on the question of theoretical parity
between France and Italy regarding
cruisers, destroyers and submarines:
She wanted the same principle OF
parity adopted at the washington Con-
fefence for capital ships to De en-
forced for other categorieS OF ships dis
cussed at London.
italy refused to put down f1gures ana
SiRnor Grandi, the Italian chief dele
gate. repeated invariably that 1taly
must have the right to build ship 1or
ship what France Is building"
In August last Italian and French
naval experts met in Paris and the 1tai-
ians agreed for the first time 70 talK
figures. They offered France l0o, ,00o IONS
more cruiser tonnage ana 2o,UoV aS nao,s
submarine tonnage. The French turned
down this offer. The conversations were
adjourned. In the middle OF OCTOBER
Missolini declared at the meeting OF
the Grand Council OF the Fascist party
that Italy will maintain her claim 10
naval parity with France. This seemed
for a while to have shut the door to any
further discussions between the Two
countries.
the United States have taken an ac-
tive hand IN the solution Of this irk-
some question and it is likely that new
negotiations will be started possibly be-
fore November 8. when the Preparatory
Commission for General Disarmament
meets at Geneva.
Basis for Negotiations.
The basis for these negotiations seems
TO be the following: Italy's claim for
theoretical parity with France Is ques.
ton of national prestige. France s refusal
to accept this is based on the foct that
in the London treaty the word parity Is
never mentioned. Great Britain, Japan
and the United States have agreed to
build q certain number OF war vessels.
II statistician were to figure out the
amounts agreed upon he would nno par
ity between Great Britain and the
United States and q certain ratio for
Japan; nevertheless, the word parity Is
not mentioned.
France does not see why she should
be, branded with a definite figure in re-
lation to italy, hence her refusal to
agree to Italys demand. France, how
ever, suggests that since the Washing
ton treaty mentions the word parity.
this should be maintained in regard to
capital ships. For this reason the
French Naval department has decided
to proceed with the construction OF
three washington treaty capital ships
Of $4,000 tons each. Italy has the right
to do the same thing. but on account
Of economic conditions In that country
It seems unlikely that she will do 1t.
As a matter of fact, France wants
definite, although not necessarily OH
cial, undertaking on the part Of Mus
solini that italy will not build such yes
sels before 1886. The three capital
ships France is building now assure
Frances unquestionable superiority In
the Mediterranean. The question OF
parity to save Italy's prestige and give
France O naval superiority being thus
solved, - France is willing to proceed
with the conversations regarding the
other classes, Of warships along the
lines Of the eoffer made last August by
the Italian naval experts. The French,
1t is reliably reported, are now quite
willing to accept figures very close TO
those offered them by the Italians.
(Copyright, isso)