SECOND EDITION THE DEMANDS OF FRANCE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIII, Issue 3106, 27 December 1921, Page 6

SECOND EDITION THE DEMANDS OF FRANCE.

Bv Electric Telecraph.—Copyright. Received December 27. 11.40 a.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. Observers in close touch with the Frond dwell on iheir bitterness at whai they tern the inconsiderate way they have beei irealed at the conference, li hurls thei pride thai they were not called into tin deliberations on naval armaments until tin Big Three had settled the ratio, and thei ihey were told in ell'ecl thai they inus accept it. This feciing of soreness is iiiani testing itself not only in an unaccoininodal ing attitude and exiravaganl demands foi tonnage of both capital shins and sub marines, though they arc perfectly aware lhal these cannot be secured, bill also in intense irritation with Britain, who thoj feel has outmanoeuvred them throughout. Therefore they are engaged in the old garni of twisting The linn's tail. This is apparent, ihough expressed iii perfect politeness in speech of both M. Sarraul and Admiral De Bou during the submarine discussion.

As an instance, (here is sling oven in M, Sarrain's tribute lo l.he pari played in I lit* war by Britain's navy, which, "working Willi ilie h'rench navy iliil so much lo make victory certain. Many other similar veiled sneers' occurred during Ihe debate until ever the urbane Mr lialfour reminded them that anybody looking al the mailer from Ihe strictly' strategical and tactical viewpoint would certainly conclude from Ihe geographical position ilial I'Yance wanted to build a. large mass of submarines agahisl ISriiain. This brought back Admiral [)e Ron and A!. Stimuli, and more compliments and dis avowals, bill flic incident though illuminating possibly I heir irritation, obscured their reasoning, and prevented them from reahs ! in..; the. result of their actions. II cannot ! be doubled that their anion in asking for an enormous increase of tonnage at a confer •.. h -iallv called to discuss limitation is the subjocl of much adverse comment among all' the delegations, so thai l'Vanee if she maintains her position places lersoli in danger of the isolation which .VI. Ilriaml is so anxious about. Tins may be the cause o) Ihe assertions from Paris that I-ranee mlends to'sugaosl as the price of her coneocling submarine restriction the formulation ot inulfiplo power treaties dealing with the \llaulie and Mediterranean in flie same way as the Kour Power I'ael deals with Ihe Pacific I'l is mosl doubtful whether ibis would be acceptable to the American administration, which mu'sl consider the altitude of Ihe Senate. Special lo Australian Press Association.