Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-12
TORIES SEE FRENCH NOTE
BLOWAT NAVAL REDUCTION
Regarded Heaven.Sent Chance to Escape
Rapidan Obligations, and May
Undo Macdonald.

, recognizing his thesis as honest, his
phrase as lucid, his contribution as
useful. Why? Because this French
note at once enabled all the Tory ele-
ments in Britain to reopen the question
Of the Rapidan agreement.
Sitting beside the banks OF that
stream, which has never had fortu-
nate connotation for Washington Gov,
ernments, the American President and
the British premier fixed at 1000 tons
and $4,000 tons, respectively, the
cruiser fleets of their countries. And
the British figure of 1000 tons rep
resented a reduction of $4,000 tons and
a curtailment of 20 ships from the ex-
isting status. So far Macdonald had
been able to bring the admiralty from
the point Of view of Geneva In the ILL
fated meeting Of 1927.
Basis for British.
But for the British the Rapidan fg-
ure was based upon the assumption that
France, italy and Japan could be per-
suaded to accept as permanent the
ratios of Washington as they related to
battleships. For cruisers France. Italy
and Japan have, however, already re-
jected these ratios.
What has not yet been perceived with
SUFFICIENT clarity on this side of the
Atlantic is that the French note has
destroyed the very foundation of the
Hoover Macdonald agreement, because
It foreshadowed French naval strength
in other proportions. And the British
Tories have welcomed the French ac-
ton because 1t saves them from the
choice between publicly opposing and
equally publicly adopting a reduction
of British naval strength contrary to
the desire of the British navy.
Now, In the face of the Tardieu dec
laration, the British Tories are openly
coming forward with the assertion that
no definitive three power pact is pos
sihle, because France refuses to con-
form her strength to British and Amer
lean desires, and British strength must
therefore be based upon French. At
best, then, there can only be a three
power pact which, while 1t agrees on
tonnage for the moment, recognizes that
the quotas Of all states signatory to the
treaty are subject to instant revision in
the face Of new French or even italian
construction.
Demands More Tonnage.
The .Tardieu declaration also means
that Mr.. Stimson will have to under
take again the task of Geneva, for
Great Britain Is now back upon the
Geneva thesis that she needs not
1893, 900 tons, but 100000; not so ships,
but 10.
Today it is no secret in London that
the British Labor prime minister has
been specifically warned that if he I'M
dertakes to reduce British naval
naval advisers of the government will
walk out. And 1t Is no secret, too, that
for these advisers the Rapidan agree
n1ent, to which they consented with ex-
IRENE reluctance, was wholly condi-
tional upon the agreement of the
French to accept ratios that the Tar
dieu note has absolutely rejected.
And it is equally certain that the
forcible protest of the naval advisers of
the government would precipitate a
crisis that would almost certainly mean
the fall of the Labor government. At
the moment when Labor policy, alike
in Egypt and India, Is awakening ut
most anxiety in all imperial quarters,
any surrender of national security in
the presence of perils within home
waters, in the Atlantic and, above ALL
In the Mediterranean, would produce a
political upheaval.
Macdonald May Fall
I know it Is customary in American
circles to calculate that the fact Of the
tinuance of the Macdonald government
in power for the duration of the meet
ing. But venture the prediction that,
should Indian matters proceed toward a
crisis, such as now seems likely, not
even consideration for the conference
would persuade the British people to
continue ministry which seemed weak
at the point most vital to British power
and prosperity.
Meantime, the American public must
perceive that Mr.. Stimson is going to
join battle not with an isolated France.
but with French prime minister whose
first act has won him the support of
all the British Tories, because it seems
to offer the heaven-sent means of es-
Gaping reduction of naval strength
which in their eyes constitutes an I'M
pairment of imperial security.
Nor can any one fail to enjoy the
double paradox by which a French
prime minister finds himself brought to
defend the British Navy against an ex-
isting British government and the
League of Nations against the repre-
sentatives of the nation responsible for
its existence.
(Copyright, ls3o)