Show FRANCE mm REFUSES NEW NAVY PACT Believe She Will Vill Insist On Keeping 1 League Intact I GENEVA EVA Switzerland Feb 16 upon maintainIng In- In Intact in intact tact the power and authority of o othe the tho league of ot nations with scrupulous scrupulous scrupulous regArd retard for tor the wishes of alt all the r states both great and small is the interpretation Ir in league circles of o Frances France's replY to Washington In which she re- re refused re refused fused us d to consider participation in ina ina ina a new naval na conference limited to the five Che big biff naval pow powers rs o Officials here while fn favoring a five tle power pact pad believe that the United States with Its position ot of Independence an di b be- be between be between tween two oceans neglects to give sufficient importance to to the relations either of or mere friend friend- friendship friendship ship or open alliance existing be- be between between be between tween numerous countries n Europe or to the difficulty on nation finds In action on 01 naval armaments without Into consideration the desires of smaller countries who arc are also Interested in smaller such as submarines and destroy destroy- destro destroyer er Frances France's reply Is believed to leave leavo the tho fate of the tho AmerIcan propOsal to the preparatory dis dis- dis disarmament disarmament armament commission where the American delegates will have all an opportunity to argue arcue the practicability practicability ability of ot a conference of ot the the big powers as the first concrete step tep lep toward general reduction or of armaments The French memorandum fol- fol following fol following lowing Europe's refusal to accept the American world court lions Is also retarded regarded in iii leau circles as another ot of Europe's belle belief that the United States must work through th league th-league league as a a and not through Its Individual members if she do- do de desires sires to operate co-operate effectively in Europe |