4 AUGUST 1928, Page 2

The sense of the announcement by the French Foreign Office

is that a control of armament is accepted by France in place of a limitation of tonnage by classes. It is suggested by some newspapers, but has not been confirmed, that Great Britain as a quid pro quo ' has made some concession to the French military case. In the absence of precise information we can make only a provisional comment. It does not seem desirable on the face of it that the cause of disarmament should be advanced by agreeing to a degree of Army man-power hitherto regarded by Great Britain as unnecessary. Of course, it may be that such a compromise (if it really exists) is the only " way out "—that the alternative is a continuance of the deadlock. In that case a little progress must be accepted as better than nothing.