The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-20
France Cannot Give
 Up Her Armed F Force
(Continued From Page D

Briand said in his memorandum to the league.
 "Of what use indeed will arma- ments be once they are limited and reduced? War having been out lawed, what will nations do if war breaks out and a crime of aggres- sion is committed? These are the essential questions to which the conference Of 1892 must give defi- nite answers If it is to succeed" Insisting that a great land force Is as necessary to her as great navy which assures the mastery of the seas Is to Great Britain, France will take the stand at Geneva that armies, navies and air forces must not be considered independently, but that these three arms are in- terdependent. ""
 If Italy makes the gesture which many expect, of offering to show the way in 25 per cent arms cut, France will reply that reduction by fixed proportions would be unfair.
 The Briand memorandums to tke league definitely fixed France's 's present fighting forces as follows: Active army ............ .401, Al Colonial army overseas ...240, 065 Gendarmes .............. 42,685 Navy and coastguard ..... 58,833 Air force, land navy and overseus '.. .''..'. ,oof This gives France a total of T94,57S men under arms which in- cludes untrained conscripts and re- serve officers and men calbled up for active duty with the army.
 The air force now numbers v,1a 1,,tkh ,t,,<> .tt |, of 1,565, 145 horse power, including in government schools for the prep aration of army and navy flyers. The army has 2,321 war planes, the colonies 570 and the navy 109. The present French navy, with out counting ships in process of construction or to be laid down un- der building programs already voted, has a global tonnage of 628,- 603 tons. There are in all 256 war ships in the newborn fleet, includ- ing Q capital ships, one aircraft carrier, l2 first-class cruisers, II second-class cruisers, 31 destroy CTS, 61 torpedo-Boats, no subma- ines, 17 dispatch boats used as river gunboats, three mine and net | layers and one seaplane carrier of 10000 tons.
 Objects to Debts Too Paris, Jan 20.-UP)---The Paris press considered the proposed Lau- same debts and reparations con- ference a "wash-out" today in view of the complicated international debt situation.
 1t was noted that within 24 hours Premier Pierre Laval had reiterated the French position oi no reduction of separations with out corresponding reduction oi French debt payments, and that the premier had been advised in. formally that if Europe wants ar extension of the Hoover mora. torium, they must take the initia. tive in such move.
 The press said British ministers had been warned that 1t might not be necessary for them to go to the conference, expected to become merely a formal gathering of ex. perts to study the findings of the committee which investigated Ger many's capacity to pay.
 The American position on the debts question was informally con- veyed to Premier Pierre Laval. Il politely and firm:y inferred that Europe must take the initiative fl she wants an extension of the moratorium and reminded that the l American congress has the final word on any debt readjustment
 The door was not closed to 6 united European request for an eX- tension of the moratorium, how ever.