“PEACE-MAKERS.”

Taranaki Daily News, 21 November 1921, Page 5

“PEACE-MAKERS.”

THE POLICY OF FRANCE. DISARM ON CONDITIONS. GUARANTEE OF HELP. (From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Assn.) Received Nov. 20, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Nov. 18 M. Briand (Premier of France), interviewed by the Australian Press Association, said: “We are peacemakers. If it had not been that France has a strong army, war would have broken out four times since the armistice. Too many people think that because Germany is beaten everything is all right, and France can disarm. If the rest of the world tells France they will come to her assistance we will disarm, but not if they tell us to wait till the danger comes before preparing to meet it. That is what has happened to France several times in the last hundred years. “America feels the need of a large nav.v for a danger that is remote. France feels the need of a large army for a danger that is at hand. If France can get an agreement for peace in Europe such as America is seeking in the Far East, our reduction in our army will far exceed the navy reduction plan. All of Mr. A. J. Balfour’s arguments in favor of more auxiliary craft apply to France. We have possessions in three oceans. France also wants submarines, for they are the arm of the weak.” The next plenary session will be held on Monday, when M. Briand (France) is expected to make a very important speech outlining France’s intentions re-' garding sea and land disarmament.

FRENCH DELEGATES' ACTIVE.

SUPPORT FOR CHINA. NO SECRET NEGOTIATIONS. ■ • By TelATraph.—FreM Asin —CopyrlghL Washington, Nov. 18. The French are beginning to make themselves heard at the Conference. M. Briand, of course, is most anxious to get his views on land disarmament before the Conference, and probably will be given an opportunity at the next, plenary meeting. Meantime the French delegation have let it be known that they are unwilling that the armament agreement should be made without reference to the Far East settlement. Regarding the latter they want France and China included in any arrangement which might be suggested as taking the place of the Anglo-Japanese alliance. France ia supporting China’s proposals in principle. She is willing to abandon both territorial and extra-territorial privileges, if other nations do the same and when China is able to give protection to foreigners?. She maintains that Indo-China never belonged to though she is ready to discuss the rectification of the boundary. The French declared their sympathy with Japan s desire for expansion, raw materials, and for open dealings of the Powers with China, without secret negotiations. The further consideration of Far Eastern questions has been postponed consequent on Viscount Kato’s request that several days’ time be given the Japanese delegation to consider China’s proposals before discussing them in the conference. GERMAN AIRCRAFT MENACE. DISARMAMENT URGED. Paris, Nov. 18. Deputy Fonek, an aviator ace of the aces, writing in the Petit Journal, demands that the Washington Conference should consider the disarmament of Germany in regard to aircraft. He declares that French members of the Inter-Allied Commission are convinced that Germany still possesses enormbus quantities of aircraft material, and hrs made much technical progress. He believes, that the Commission is proposing to remove the embargo against Germany manufacturing aircraft, and expresses the opinion that if France allows the Allies to decide the navaj strengths of the Powers, she ought to decide the aircraft armaments. EFFECT IN JAPAN. A CHANGED TONE. Tokio, Noy. 17’. The effect of the naval proposals is more apparent on the stock market today, stocks in armament, military supplies, and shipping concerns registering heavy slumps. The majority of offers are going begging. The Osaka Exchange registered heuvy drops yesterday owing to the circulation of a false report that Yamagata was dead. Japanese editorials and semi-official comment have suddenly turned against the renewal of the Anglo-Japanese Alliance and the substitution of an Ameri-can-British-Japanese understanding is ; being urged as highly desirable.—Aus.N.Z. Cable Assn.