NOTES OF THE DAY

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 137, 5 March 1919, Page 4

NOTES OF THE DAY

No doubt, as an American journal observes in an article quoted to-day, Lord Jelmcoe's mission will make for the unification, or co-ordination, of the naval forces of tho British Dominions and for the security of the Pacific. Sentiment in the Dominions will hardly, however, favour the further view taken by this commentator that the new arrangement is expressly directed against Japan. Undoubtedly the Dominions will be glad to co-operate with America in safeguarding peace, in the Pacific, but they will co-operate to the same end with any of our Allies. It can never be forgotten that in this war Japan has fought and co-operated as our loyal ally, and our aim for the future must be to promote agreemont with her in every reasonable and practicable way. There can be no question in countries li'ce this of opening the door to Asiatic immigration, but it should not be impossible' to get Japan to recognise that restrictions in this category'are as much in her interests as in those of the countries that impose them. She would gain nothing if the members of her surplus population were allowed to pour into countries where their establishment would be bound to lead to endless friction and strife. Whatever is done in the way of organising naval force every effort certainly ought to bo made to arrive at the best and most friendly understanding with Japan that conditions will permit. ' » *' * »

The differences which have arisen over the disposal of the surrendered German warships will probably strike most people as somewhat peculiar. It would seem a simple solution of the difficulty to divide the vessels amongst tho Allies, and permit each 'to dispose of their share as they pleased. So far as Britain is concerned, the Gorman warships would no doubt be best disposed of at the bottom of the ocean. France and Italy, however, are not in the same happy position regarding their naval strength. They have emerged from tho war reduced in strength so far as capital ships are concerned, and appear to be anxious to add some at least of the German battleships and cruisers to their fleets. This certainly would not be an unreasonable attitude under ordinary circumstances, but it does seem a little strange that the question should be treated as one of such outstanding importance as the French Press appears to make it, in the iight of the Allies' proposal for a League of Nations to make sccuro the peace of the world. France in particular, with the terrific war burden which she will have to carry and which will cripple her for many years to come, mig_ht have been expected to show anxiety to avoid adding to the cost of upkeep of her Navy rather than to add_ to it ;by increasing its size. Especially is this the case in view of the fact that' the sea power of her dangerous neighbour has been completely demolished. If the matter is pressed, the German vessels might be distributed amongst the Allies in proportion to their naval losses, in which case Britain would secure the lion's share, and could then do with them as she pleased. The division of the remainder amongst _ the different Allies would not seriously affect the balance of the world's naval power.

: Developments in Germany, which threaten to produce much the same state of affairs in that country as exists in Russia, are confirmed by the French Foreign Minister, .M. Pichon, who is particularly well placed to weigh the evidence. He says that undoubtedly the position of Germany is very bad, and that the Sparfcacist movement is growing o\ving_ to hunger and discontent. This is conclusive as far as it goes, but a lingering suspicion remains that powerful elements in Germany may be allowing the Spartaeists free scope in order to offer the greatest possible obstruction to the impost tion of peace terms by the Allies. Conditions in Germany are still in some respects, remarkably different from those which obtained in Russia in the early days of the Bolshevik usurpation. For instance, as information stand§, Hindenburg is still at thehead of the Army. Indeed, there is nothing to show that he is much less a popular idol than he was. Considering also that illiteracy is asrare in Germany as it is common in Russia, it seems likely that there is at least an element of Camouflage in the rapid extension of the Spartacist movement. The position of the Allies towards Germany in regard to one vital matter is stated to-day by Mr. Winston

Churchill. "We could allow Germany to import food and raw materials," he said, "the moment she signed peace." A great pronortion of the German people must be capable of realising that their own hope of relief from existing evils is to set their internal affairs in order, and make such terms with the Allies as the latter are prepared to grant.