Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-13
FRENCH BEGIN TALK
ON SAFETY PACTS'
Want Supplies Withheld From
Kellogg Treaty Breakers
by Other Members.
BY PAUL SCOTT MowRER.


The French delegates to the conference
have begun the long-expected negotia-
tons for security pacts. Aristide BRAND
French foreign minister, who has beer
impatiently awaiting his moment ever
since the beginning of the conference
formally preached the subject to the
Sr;ttsa last night and continued his
0.scAsslon through the americans to-
day. It is understood, meanwhile, that
the French tonnage figures are merely
tentative and that they will d.pend on
the outcome of the pact negotiA ions.
M. BRAND made two proposals The
first Is for a convention open to all
sIEaatofleS Of theKellogg pact, providing
as III case OF a bie2ch or. threatened
breach Of the pact. they agree TO confer
The second calls for a convention, also
open to all SignatorieS OF TIC Kellogg
pact. obliging them in case of a breach
81 tine pact to withhold all supplies
from the pact breaker.
The idea of q Mediterranean pact
has been dropped. The French now
say that they only proposed it as a
means of facilitating agreement with
cool and Italy opposes such treaty
unless it receives at the same time
political compensation, they are only
too glad to withdraw the proposal.
British Believed Favorable.
In any case their two proposals under
the Kellogg pact interest the French
much more because, they argue, only
by some such arrangement insuring
that the United States will not try to
help a pact breaker can Great Britain
be persuaded to cooperate to enforce
the covenant of the League of Nations.
The British are understood to favor
both French proposals. The United
States is still reluctant to consider
either, but as between the two prefers
an agreement to confer which, it is
argued, is already implicit in the pact,
81 that the French proposal would
merely formalize what already exists
informally.
The American delegation, which yes
terday fatty denied all knowledge Of
any project to neutralize the Philip
pines, today admits that this project
is a possible means Of persuading the
japanese to reduce their tonnage
figures.
Reijiro Wakatsuki, chief of the
japanese delegation, has been seeking
for some time q means to meet the
Americans at least half way on their
tonnage claims without losing face
and his trouble has been that Japan
has so long and so firmly been stating
its fixed demands that the Japanese
public would take amiss any one-sided
Japanese concessions.
Moreover, the Japanese election cam
paign is now in full swing. No conces-
sions could be contemplated before
February 20, japanese election day. But
after the election, the situation may be
more elastic.
Three Possibilities in Mind.
In thinking over possible American
concessions which would enable Japan
in turn to accept fewer ships, it is
understood that three possibilities en-
tered the minds of japanese statesmen.
First, a declaration by the United
States that it recognizes Japan's pre-
dominant interests in Manchuria. But
this might offend China, hence the
United States would be reluctant.
Second, placing Japanese immigration
Into the United States on a basis like
that Of other nationalities." But this
would require an act of Congress, and
no American Government could promise
that Congress would vote such an act.
Third, naturalization of the Philip.
pines. In view Of the agitation for the
United States to give the Philippines
their independence, In view of the diff
case and in view of the unfavorable
opinion of our naval men regarding
Manila as a useful naval base, it is this
last proposal which seems to offer the
most possibilities.
Naturally Japan has no intention of
raising political questions" here and
neither does the American delegation
desire to engage in purely political con-
versations. 1t is believed, however, that
II such conversations between ourselves
and the Japanese either In Washington
or Toxic, or both, were TO be engaged in,
they would go a long way toward re-
lievtng the tension Of the tonnage dis
cuSSions In London.
Light Shed on Mystery"
The mystery Of the American pro-
posal to build brand-new capital ship
as compensation" for the British YES
sells the Rodney and the Nelson has
been elucidated somewhat.
The general board, it seems, sug-
gested some months ago that we build
two such ships, but other naval ex-
perts-for all the American naval off,
GERS are not Of the same mind regard
ing the value of capital Ships-pointed
out that this. with the modernization
Of five Of our other battleships which
was already begun, would give US such
an overwhelming superiority over the
British that the latter could hardly
be expected to accept.
The project was revived here, 1t is
believed, at the insistence of Senator
David A. Reed of the American delega-
ton and under the influence of the
big Navy group. Secretary of State
Stimson asked the advice of certain
members of his delegation and was told
that such a PROPOSAL would doubtless
create a very bau effect on world opin-
tn1 and perhaps weaken our moral posi-
ton IN the conference. Mr.. Stimson,
nevertheless. decided to make the pro-
posal to the British.
He deleted 1t, however, from the pub
nshed memorandum and requested
Prime Minister Macdonald to keep II
an absolute secret until toward the
end of the conference. He was much
surprised when the facts leaked out in
the British press.
Poorly Received by Japan.
At the same time, realizing that Japan
must also be considered, we proposed
that Japan should also build a new
capital ship as counterpart to ours.
The japanese seem to have taken this
suggestion in bad part. arguing that
the value of capital ships Is a debatable
point, that building them at the present
moment is a poor way of saving money
and that such new construction cannot
but lead to public criticism against the
work of the conference. They have
accordingly refused the American pro-
posal.
The British, on the other hand, seem
TO have accepted the idea, feeling sure
that Congress will scarcely authorize
the expenditure of $50, 900 600 for what
naval experts consider a doubtful pur-
pose.
The revised French tonnage figures
as they will be presented late today tc
the British and the American delega-
tons, and based on the French con-
sfr,rcfir,1n rnrnuraY,n To 1o2R ara fol.