France Frightened

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 772, 19 September 1929, Page 9

France Frightened

EFFECT OF NAVAL PARLEY

Must Have Her Submarines

ITALY AND THE MEDITERRANEAN

(United P.A..—By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press AssociationJ (United Service J

LONDON, Wednesday. AC CORDING to reports from Paris the prospect of the new naval conference is viewed with misgivings by those who are responsible for the naval policy of Prance. It is clearthat they would prefer to remain aloof, especially as it involves the delicate question of relations with Italy.

There is an ever-present apprehension in France that any Anglo-Amer-ican agreement, with Japan proportionately acquiescent, will be at the expense of French security and force the French Navy into a position something approaching parity with Italy, whose problems of defence are totally different. The French scheme of defence is based on the geographical position of the country. This involves sea connections both with the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, also strategical problems including, besides coastal defence, the protection of sea communications between Marseilles and Algiers and between Brest and Dakar. It is argued that if France is placed on an equality with Italy it will mean that she will only have sufficient light sea forces available for the defence of one or other of those routes, not of both. This implies a weakening of France’s position in the Mediterranean and a corresponding increase in Italy’s influence. Another message from Paris say 3 Press comment on the Anglo-Amer-ican agreement is to the effect that there is no objection to those two Powers making arrangements between themselves, but France will not give up her submarine fleet. Nor will she consent to any form of parity which will result in French inferiority in the Mediterranean.

HOOVER SATISFIED

PROGRESS MADE TOWARD LIMITATION BRITAIN TO DO INVITING Australian and N.Z. Press Association) f United. Service) Reed. 9 a.m. WASHINGTON, Wed. Although the negotiations failed to realise the maximum of the hopes he entertained at the outset of the AngloAmerican parleys, President Hoover is believed to be well satisfied with the progress made toward a further limitation of naval armaments. If the agreement in principle which has been reached between the United States and Britain is ratified by the other three major naval Powers, through a limitation programme for them consonant with the AngloAmerican one, the belief here is that a much more substantial reduction will be possible at the expiration of the Washington Treaty in 1936. By that time, the navies of the world would have become stabilised under such an agreement as might be worked out at the projected January conference, and it would be possible to sur-

vey all the categories, of ships with a view to further limitation in each administration. Officials claim that an AngloAmerican agreement in principle would end competition, which of itself will result in smaller cruiser fleets, and great savings to Britain and the United States. A REPORT DENIED The invitations to the five-Power naval conference, to be held late in January, will be issued by the British Prime Minister, Mr. Ramsay MacDonald, in the near future; but the exact time remains to be determined. This was learned authoritatively on Wednesday, also that there would be no joint invitations on behalf of Britain and the United States. The Secretary of State, Mr. H. L. Stimson, said dispatches emanating from London saying that Mr. MacDonald had already sent invitations through the British Embassies at Tokyo, Paris, and Rome, were without authorisation, and entirely inaccurate. The invitations from the British Government will go to the United States, Japan, France, and Italy. With all five Powers expected to participate in the conference, which it is now proposed to hold in London, a considerable am % ant of preparatory work must be done before the invitations are sent forward through the British Embassies. Maybe that action will be deferred until after Mr. MacDonald has conferred with President Hoover at Washington on the points still in controversy between the United States and Britain on the cruiser question.