The Navy League and Politics.

Press, Volume LVII, Issue 17114, 8 April 1921, Page 6

The Navy League and Politics.

The brief discussiqp on the Anglo-Japan-ese Treaty at last night's meeting of the committee of the Navy League was not very helpful, but it -was in. its way instructive. The chairman, Mr Marrin?r, submitted a short paper in which he urged that for various reasons stated by him the Treaty should not bo renewed, That is a view which we cannob see any good ground for upholding, unless by renewal Mr Marriner means renewal in the existing form,' or in the existing form modified (as the parties last year informed the League of Nations itwould he modified) in such a way as'to make it nominally conformable to the principles of the Covenant. The Treaty must be modified very substantially if it is to be made agreeable to'the sentiment of the Dominions, Which are interested not only in the femoval of all obstacles to Anglo-American amity but also in the removal of conditions which will allow the Asiatic mainland to continue as a source of disagreement amongst the Powers. But to advocate revision is very different fiom advocating the abolition of the . Treaty altogether. Members of the committee of t'he League appeared to be disinclined, on the whole, to discuss the question at all, on the ground that it is. 'a, political question. This does not appear to be a very good reason for silence; tha parent League felt no shyness about discussing disarmament, which is just as thorny a political topic as AngloJapanese relations. A very good reason for silence was, however, given by Mr Ferguson, namely, laok of knowledge on the part of members. We can readily believe that few members of the League have been able to spare the time and trouble necessary to the formation of a clear understanding of the facts, and no doubt uninstructed discussion, is best avoided. But this good reason for the committee's attitude last night is an equally good reason why members of the committee should set about equipping themselves to express an opinion if it should become necessary to do so.