Show r REASON GIVEN I FOR REJECTION OF ARMS ARr S CU CUT France Bluntly D Declares clares United States Cannot Dictate By ny GERVILLE nE CnE One oC ef o the Foremost Journalist of oC France Prance Special Radio Dispatch Dl p to The TheS S lAnd ro- ro miner Copyright 1927 1921 1 27 Consolidated Press Association PARIS Feb 19 This 1 This corre corre- correspondent corre- corre correspondent correspondent pictures an nn American citizen this week reading the th French reply to President Cool Cool- CoolIdge's Coolidge's Cool ideo's Idge's memorandum Secretary of oC o State Kelloggs Kellogg's remarks and the press comment on this subject Then throws throw down tho the paper ex- ex exclaiming claiming These blessed French rench I people They TO aro always the th same sam with their Poincare they wont won't disarm or the tac writer to to answer this summary verdict and ani explain the unanimous feeling without troubling about the reasons which dictated the tho American administrations administration's attitude on naval na disarmament Do you know that until the th be be- be beginning be ginning ot of this century France was the second naval power after acter Great Britain and that she was only surpassed by Germany In 1906 and by the th United States and Japan since tho the war Dont Don't you OU know that for the th six years from 1 1914 U to 1920 France com com- completely completely com com- stopped naval na military construction to defend her land frontiers frontier while the th United States Japan and nd Great Britain built modern naval units without ceas ceas- ceas Inc lug FRENCH SACRIFICE S Now consider the sacrifice France made at the th Washington 1 conference when she he accepted for tor capital hips chips against the th five five- five three five of oC the United States Great Groat Britain and Japan Yet this sacrifice was small compared to what President Coolidge asked of oC France last week At the tho end of oC the tho war President President dent Wilson Imposed upon Europea Europe a treaty wherein was as cas Incorporated ed tho the league leau of oC o nations pact There were and still tili are numer numer- numer numerous numerous ous adversaries ot of this form Corm of oC se- se se security cur y Curi There was no little con confidence in it at tile the beginning that the tho American and British govern govern- governments ments ments promised France In add addition addi- addi 1 tion I s special gU antee pacts rhes Those pacts have havo not been ratified and the United Slates States has haa not Joined the league of oC nations Europe on th thi contrary created an a of ot nations and Crom from year to o year ear has tried to strength strength- strengthen cn en Ito lie authority to make of oC It an equality of oC security and equal equal- ity fly between and small arail na- na nations na nations so ao that today execution of oC the tho Versailles treaty is closely con con- connected connected con connected with th the leagues league's existence OBJEcTIoN And it is under these thes condl condi- conditions that Mr Coolidge proposes not perhaps to do away com coin completely with tho the league of oC nations but to resume at Geneva the no- no negotiations of oC o the big bie five for tor a naval na which have hao bee been Int since 1 On what principles does the tho American gov- gov government base bas Its It suggestion 7 It cpi cpi-aks In tho the name naino of oC the th richest and strongest stron Ct nation The Tho French make the th follow tollow- lug Ing decided objection It Is all 11 the same sam to us if 1 England the United States State and Japan exhaust themselves building capital ships or cruisers We are aro arnot not building any As to prevent prevent- Ing preventIng us from protecting our coasts and lines of oC communication as a we choose we did not accept in 1922 and certainly will Ill ill not accept In 1927 That 13 s sure Tho The American senators are quite tree free to authorize construe construe- construction lion tion of ot three or even ten more cruisers So much the th worse for tor Japan Mexico or Nicaragua or othe the taxpayers This will change In the friendship of oC the French and American people es- es especially us M we w are ro arranging r debt settlement France has paid pal the first annuity on tho the Mellon Mellon- Berenger agreement and payment ot of the th second annuity Is being ne- ne ne- ne negotiated ted ASKING TOO MUCH S But you come and ask iLsk us to 0 upset the th whole European equi- equi equilibrium to do away with all hope e ot of equal justice between nations nation to exclude tIle the th small powers power from fro the th disarmament debate debato to 1 sac sac- sa our naval tens defense to allo allow the th United States to keep the th rank wo we held 20 years ago aeo That Is asking too much It If judgment on the tho juridical document transmitted this week wee was a little contused confused here hero are arc areat e at least the th real and plain rca rea- reasons sons by which the tho French people I explain It nfl |