Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-02-08
NAVAL PACT JEOPARDIZED
BY FRANCO-ITALIAN STAND
Britain Faces Problem of ResOrting to
"EscalatOr" Clause With Failure of
Two Nations to Renew Truce.

portion being 191 900 tons to 100000
tons built and building.
But the British have very large pre-
ponderance of cruisers-370,000 tons
contrasted with the possible combina-
ton of $4,000 tons against them.
Then also the treaty permits the I'M
limited construction of class of vessel
which would be most excellent in COM
batting submarines There is no limit on
ships of less than 1000 tons displace-
ment and 20 knots speed, if their gun
power does not exceed one 6.1-inch
gun or four guns larger than inches
in caliber. Many trawlers and other
merchant ships are suitable for quick
conversion into such type, apart from
those which may be built by the gov
eminent.
In this treaty loophole the British
have most valuable anti-Submarine
asset to be added to their destroyer
strength, both of which will be all the
more effective from the support Of very
superior cruiser forces.
Hence at present the British have no
reason for alarm, nor for invoking the
eScalator clause But what about the
| immediate future? Italy very recently
has announced that she would match
French new construction, ton for ton,
so that the fate of the escalator clause
| llCo IItO1C III EIcIlCI1 lIld1 any
where else.
Feeling and POncy Ihdex.
We have an index of French feeling
and policy with respect to the construc-
ton Of naval auxiliaries from their con-
sistent action ever since the Washing
| ton Conference in 1922. They then
asserted most positively that the low
quota accepted for capital ships would
not be satisfactory when it came to the
| limitation of auxiliarieS. A similar dec
| laration was made by the French Sen
ate when the Washington treaty was
ratified by it.
The French would not even join in
the Coolidge Conference of 1927 called
at Geneva to limit naval auxiliaries. At
| London in 1880 they would not recede
British. More recently they have de-
clined the Italian proposals as to parity
between the two countries
Close observers feel that the French
attitude on naval policy is now strongly
influenced by their expectations as to
German action at the forthcoming Cen
eral Disarmament Conference of the
League of Nations, scheduled for Feb
ruary, 1882. The Germans have pro-
posed that the date be advanced TO
November next, and it seems probable
/
themselves in proportion to the arnna-
ments Of their neighbors.
| Fleet Means Security.
Hence with the necessary money now
available and growing need Of correct
ing unemployment, an early start in
French naval building on considerable
scale should occasion no surprise.
To the French naval power means
more than the protection of colonies
and communications. It means some
measure of security against the menace
of a blockade by the overwhelmingly
strong British navy so close at her door
both In the Atlantic and Mediterranean.
But above all, to the French naval
power means the ability to bring indis-
penSable army reinforcementS from
Northern Africa for use IN any major
war in Europe.
These are fundamental considerations
In which abstract theories on the folly
and inequity Of war and questionable
hypotheSesS such as ornaments being
the main cause Of war, cannot be allow
ed to prevail.