Dunkerque
The building of two Italian battleships caused a serious concern in French political circles. In the newspaper Journal des Débats which published the announced building was expressively explained that the building of the two French battleships of the Dunkerque type intended only to create a counterbalance in the North Sea against the German new battleships of the pocket type.(1) The Italian shipbuilding program forced France to make new extensive decisions. With 2 -35,000 ton battleships was Italy able to control the Mediterranean and a threat for the French communication between France and her North African colonies. The newspaper pointed out that France still was allowed to built battleships with a total tonnage of 105.00 tons including 70.000 according to the Washington Naval Treaty and 35.500 ton to replace the lost battleship France.
Note
1. For instance the Admiral Graf Spee. Launched on 30 June 1934 and scuttled on 17 December 1939 at Montevideo.
