EUROPE'S NAVIES.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1921, Page 5

EUROPE'S NAVIES.

FRANCE AND ITALY, UNEASY SITUATION. FRANCE WANTS INCREASE. (From the Special Representative of the Australian Press Association.) Received Dec. 18, 5.5 p.m. Washington, Dec. 16. A battle is being waged between France and Italy in the naval committee regarding the tonnage of their capital ships. France has laid proposals before the committee providing for the building of ten capital ships of the maximum tonnage, starting in 1926 and giving her 350,000 tons by 1935. Italy does not approve this, but if France carries it out she must do the same. This means an addition of 700,000 tons in capital fighting ships to the European battle fleets in ten years, i costing about £100,000,000. England objects to the whole plan, uhieh she is entirely unable to accept, as it puts her at a serious disadvantage compared with a possible combination of France and Italy. Moreover. France’s proposal to start building in f 925 will give her great superiority, making it necessary for Britain to build seven new ships at the end of the naval holiday. Britain does not want to deny France an adequate navy, but regards the present proposal as causing the inevitable destruction of Mr. C. E. Hughes’ plan.

The United States, it is understood, takes the same view, and furthermore, regards the economic conditions of Europe as all against it. It seems as though France is reajly playing the old game of national pride. Her representatives admit privately that she has no intention of building such a huge navy. She could not possibly do so, but she wants to stand third among the nations of the world.. UPSET RATIO" PLAN. One of France's delegates to-day deplored the decay of the old diplomacy. “If it existed,” he said, “we could have an open agreement for a navy larger than Japan's and a secret agreement t ndertaking not to build the same.” The French say the discussions are likely to be prolonged, but possibly American pressure will be brought to bear. France cannot afford to quarrel with the United States and the Administration will not look kindly on any attitude calculated to upset Mr. Hughes’ plan.

The English spokesman to-day will not be drawn regarding his views on the French demands, except to say it is obvious that if France or any Power insisted on a larger quota it would have the effect of altering Mr. Hughes’ plan, not regarding the ratio, which would remain unaltered, but as to the absolute number of ships to be retained by the three great Powers. It was essential France and Italy should be included: their conformity must precede a complete agreement. Every hope was expressed that a solution would be satisfactory and rapid. The Italian spokesman also referred to .France, saying that though Italy was in accord in respect to the latter's attitude regard : ng equality of navies, there was an immense difference over what France asks and what Italy wants. France seemed to come to 1 c Conference with the purpose of asking for a great increase, while Italy was ready for a decrease.

Feeling lias commenced, and is growing against France in consequence of her conduct at this Conference. The feeling expressed both in the Press and in public is one of irritation that she is the only nation which is apparently not ready to make sacrifices. She is still imbued with the old militaristic spirit and still looking back on France’s triumphs on the battlefields for a century past. So far her demands are regarded as a mere gesture, but it must not be forgotten that all expressions of national thought recently indicate this spirit is by no means confined to a section of the French public. WOULD LOSE SYMPATHY. On the other hand 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, especially that of the United States. Hitherto the latter had always a soft spot for the sister republic, and this even now shows signs of being unable to stand against the strain the French are putting upon it. Very little has been allowed to leak 1 out regarding the meeting of the subcommittee on naval armaments, but it is known American officers are applying Mr. Hughes’ formula of ratio to the French navy as 1.75, and the Italian as 1.04 on their existing strength as compared with the navies of the great Powers. Political considerations might incline the United States and Britain to agree to the ratio • being five-five-three-two-two. It is asserted that Britain’s attitude regarding the French demands is very stiff. French quarters are endeavoring to explain that they never mean to build up io Japan’s navy, and that, they only want the right to do so. but the feeling in Conference circles is that the matter should be on a definite mathematical footing, without any so-called understandings.