OUTLAWRY OF SUBMARINE

Taranaki Daily News, 8 February 1928, Page 7

OUTLAWRY OF SUBMARINE

FEELING OF THE NATIONS FRANCE REMAINS SCEPT-DAL SYMPATHY FROM BRITAIN By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received Feb. 7, 8.55 p.m. A. and N.Z. London, Feb. 6. Opinion in well-informed circles, obtained by the Daily Telegraph, emphasises the point that Britain, despite her possession of an efficient fleet of submarines, second to none and forming an important link in Imperial defence, would be glad to renounce them provided all countries followed the example, but if a single Power stands out the schenie must collapse. The case of France is instanced. With 91 submarines in her current programme, France is basing her main system of defence upon these craft. It would be difficult to convince France that the States and Japan would give up theirs. The prevalent idea is that had America supported Britain at the Washington conference the Anglo-American combined influence might have succeeded in securing universal abandonment. The Paris correspondent of the Morning Post Bays many columns of newsprint are being devoted to the commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Franco-American treaty relations and the signature of the new arbitration treaty. As though not desiring to spoil the occasion the Press almost entirely ignored Mr. Kellogg's suggestion for the abolition of submarines. No official proposal on the subject has yet been received. France will undoubtedly reply that she is willing to destroy her submarines if the United States destroys Its dreadnoughts. Mr. Kellogg's proposition, following on the heels of the new capital ship programme, appears to France to be merely a poor election dodge,” says the correspondent, “Even Litvinoff’s sweeping disarmament proposition at Geneva is regarded as preferable to Mr. Kellogg’s suggestion. Litvinoff at any rate made a suggestion of all-round reduction, not a scheme hitting some navies severely and not touching others.” A.P.A. and Sun. Paris, Feb. 0. “Mr. Kellogg is wasting his time,” says the Quotidien, pointing out that the submarine is the only weapon with which countries with small navies can defend themselves against dreadnoughts and cruisers. If Mr. Kellogg’s proposal were accepted he would gain a signal triumph, clearing away the last obstacle to the tyranny of the seas dreamed of by American imperialists.