Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1930 FRANCE'S FEARS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 April 1930, Page 4

Nelson Evening Mail TUESDAY, APRIL 8, 1930 FRANCE'S FEARS

THE Naval Conference is about to come to an end and, though the agreements, reached, are not yet divulged, it seems clear enougli that Great Britain, the United States, and Japan have come to a good understanding, while France and Italy have decided to follow lines of their own. This lack of unanimity is attributable almost, entirely to France's attempt to "trade" her acquiescence and support, in reference to any suggestions for limitation of existing fleets, for the guarantees of Britain and America that she shall be immune from attack, In other words, France demanded the protection of the two great nations of the English-speaking race, before she would consent to reduce her naval armament. Agreement to this demand would have meant Ihat Great Britain and the Unittul States would have had to hold themselves in readiness to protect France, on land as well as on the sea. So far as the United States are concerned this would have meant the annulling of the Monroe Doctrine, which debars the Americans from entangling themselves in the affairs of Europe; while for Britain it would have meant her perpetual alliance with France, and continued involvement in the antagonisms and quarjrels of the European nations. For the 'Americans agreement to France's stipulation was obviously impossible. For Britain it would have meant the contravention of her traditional policy, which, since the time of Queen Elizabeth has been freedom of action in reference to the rivalries and quarrels of the nations of the troubled Continent. If. was quite impossible for the British and American delegates to accept France's proposals; since neither the British nor American nations would have endorsed them.

So France has taken up a position apart and, if that position is not one of absolute isolation, it is one which exhibits her as a nation whose trust is in her sword, rather than in such peacepacts as the Covenant of the League of Nations and the Kellogg Pact. Under the former, Great Britain is already pledged to assist France if she should be attacked by any nation outside or inside of the League. Under the terms of the latter, the United States denounce all warlike aggression, and must necessar-

ily give their full moral support, if not their actual military and naval assistance, to any nation, signatory to the Pact, which .may be the victim of aggression. But France was not satisfied. Apparently she demanded specific guarantees from Great Britain and the United States against all possibility of attack. Given that, she would consent to reduce her navy. Tins raises the questions: from whom does Franco fear aggression? —What nations of the European Continent does she imagine are likely to attack her?—Why should she continue to feel alarmed, in spite of the fact that the League's Covenant gives her a great measure of protection, and in spite of the fact that Germany, Italy, and all the principal European nations, by signing the Kellogg Pact, have pledged themselves not to make war?

The stand which the French delegates made at the Naval Conference does not seem to coincide with France's policy during the last six or seven years during which M. liriand lias been her Foreign

Minister. That able statesman, with Sir Austen Chamberlain and the lute Dr. Stroseman, it will be remembered, inculcated at Locarno a spirit of international amity which made possible the subsequent settlement of serious differences and difficulties between Germany and the nations which had conquered her. Though the Peace Pact, of a year or two ago was generally attributed to Mr Kellogg, the U.S. Secretary of Stale in President Coolidgo's Government, it is well known that M. Briand closely associated himself with its signature and promulgation. Why, then, is the same French statesman found to-day on the side of those of his fellow-countrymen who refuse to reduce naval armaments, and persist in upholding their right (as tlio French President says) "to become a great naval constructing nation, in order to assure the security and development of colonial trade, and the protection of overseas commerce?" It remains to be seen what the agreement is, which has been reached by Great Britain, the United States, and Japan. Whatever the nature of that agreement, it must tend to cement the friendship of the three nations. It will tend greatly to turn Great Britain's attention from Europe, in whose affairs she has been much too deeply involved !in the past. Therefore it should result in Great Britain giving much more of her attention to-the Empire, to its development and the welfare of its psoples. The agreement between Great Britain and the United States in respect of their navies, should improve the good understanding between their respective nations, and thus materially promote the cause of peace in the world.