France’s Big- Naval Proposal.

Hokitika Guardian, 20 December 1921, Page 1

France’s Big- Naval Proposal.

TEN NEW CAPITAL SHIPS WANTED. (From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.) WASHINGTON, December 16. Rattle is joined between France and Italy in the Naval Committee of Fif-j teen regarding capital ship tonnage, j France has laid proposals before the • committee providing for building ten j capital ships of the maximum allowed tonnage (36.000 tons), starting in 1920 giving here 360,000 tons by 1936. Italy does not approve of this proposal, but if France carries it out, must do the same. This means an addition of 700,000 tons of capital fighting ships to European battle (loots in ten years, costing

about £100,000,000. England objects to the whole plan, which she is entirely unable to accept, as it puts her at a serious disadvantage, compared with a possible naval combination of France and Italy. Moreover, France’s proposal to start building in 1926 will give her a great superiority, making it necessary for Britain to build seven new ships at the end of the naval holiday period. Britain does not want to deny France an adequate navy, hut thinks the present propositi, if carried out will cause the inevitable destruction of Mr Hughes’s plan. The United States it. is understood takes the same view, and. furthermore, regards the economic conditions of Europe as being all against it.

It seems ns though France is really playing her old game of pandering to optional pride. Her representatives ad pi it privately that she has no intention of building such a huge navy. She could not possibly do so. but wants to stand third among the nations of the world. One of her delegates to-day declared the decay of the old diplomacy if if existed. He said France could have an open agreement for a navy larger than Japan’s, and a secret agreement undertaking not. to build such a navy. The French representatives say the discussion- arc likely to be prolonged, but |Kissibly American pressure will be brought to liear. France ( .amiot afford to quarrel with the United States whose Government will not look kindly on any attitude calculated to upset the Hughes’ plan. The English spokesman to-day would not be drawn regarding the British views of flu l French demands, exeopt to say that it was obvious that il France, or any Rower, insisted on a. larger quota it would have the effect of altering the Hughes’ plan, not as regards the ratio, which would remain unaltered, but as to life absolute number of ships to he retained by the three Great Rower,x. It was essential that Franc and Italy should he included in any agreement based on the Hughes plan. Their conformity must precede a complete agreement. Every hope was expressed that a satisfactory and rapid solution would he reached. ATTITUDE OF ITALY. The Italian spokesmen also referred In the matter, saying though France

and Italy wore ill accord in respect to the bitter's attitude teganling equality of navies, there was an immense difference between what Franc' 1 was ask ing for and wlmt Italy wanted. France seemed to have come to the .Conference with the purpose ot asking for a great increase in her navy. Italy was rcad\ for a decrease in accordance with the spirit of the Conference, only asking that a guarantee on this matter should remain a condition of the agreement. AAIERTCAN FEELING IRRITATED. Undoubted feeling has commenced and is growing against France in consequence ol her conduct at this Confoienre. The feeling expressed both in th Press and by the public is one of irritation that she is the only nation which is apparently not, ready to make sacritices. Bho is still imbued \\ ith the old militaristic spirit, and is still looking back on France’s triumphs on battlefields for a century past,. So far her demands are regarded as a mere gesture. but it must not. lie forgotten that all expressions ot national thought iecently indicated this spirit is by no idea ns confined to a section of the French public. On the other band, it is almost inconceivable that France will be SO blind to her own interests as to force matters to extremes and lose the; sympathy and support of the whole world, and especially of the United States. Hitherto, the latter has always had a •‘soft spot" for her sister Republic. This feeling even now shows signs of being unable to stand against the strain tin* French are putting upon it. FRENCH \XD ITALIAN RATIOS. Very little is being allowed to leak out regarding the meeting of the Subcommittee on Naval Armaments. It, is known that American officers are applying the Hughes ratio formula to the French Navy as 1.75 and to the Italian Navy 1.0-1 oil their existing strengths, as compared with the navies of the Great Powers. Political considerations might induce the t nited States and Great Britain to agree to the ratio being fivo-five-three-two-two. It is asserted that Britain's attitude regarding the French demands is very stiff. French quarters are endeavouring to explain tlnit they never mean to build up to Japan's Navy. They only want the right to do so. but feeling in Conference circles is that the matter should be on a definite mathematical footing, without any so-called understandings.