France, Italy and the Conference Both sides are agreed that
submarines ought to be abolished, and this brings us to the almost certain diffi* culties which Great Britain and America will encounter at the London Conference. We cannot escape the conclusion that Italy and France will say to us " You have obviously drawn up your scheme in the interests of nations which are powerful at sea. We weaker naval nations have long relied, and intend to rely, upon small swift vessels and particularly upon submarines for our coastal defence." France especially may be expected to say, " America was indignant when the British and French experts made a proposal which she said was the very proposal she had rejected at Geneva. She regarded that as insulting. Yet now Great Britain and America in conjunction are seriously proposing to France that she should abandon her submarines although she has said repeatedly that she cannot do so."
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