NAVAL LIMITATION

Hokitika Guardian, 30 December 1920, Page 3

NAVAL LIMITATION

A WELCOME PROPOSAL. UNITED SERVICE TELEGRAMS. !

(Received This Day at 12.20 p.m.) LONDON, Dec. 29. Britain’s answer to the American suggestion-for limitation of naval armaments has been an. immediate and definite "Yes.” The public men of all parties blessed the proposal. The Church Press and Labour Commerce are spontaneously advocating it. Every newspaper is opening its columns to the discussion. No correspondent can be found optimistic enough to assert that Britain is able to finance, without the greatest risks, the stupendous effort, of such competitive building programmes as outlined by Japan and America.

Government has been working for some time for an agreement, being confident that Anglo-American relations S — would improve, and refusing fo believe an Anglo-American war possible. This improvement has definitely arrived. Mr Harding’s unofficial envoys to .. . Europe indicate a strong policy of friendship and trust. The surprise has been the avidity with which Japan accepted the idea. The immediate entry pf the Japanese Ambassador into the arena and ihis daily repetition of Ja- j pan’s willingness to sign an agreement i suggests that important official conversations preceded the public ventilation of the idea. .Another surprise has been Hon Walter Long’s message to America deelar- (_ ing Britain although an Island power, entirely dependent on the ocean highways, is willing to accept a stand of equal strength, with the next power. Thus are the ghosts of old political controversies regarding the two keel standard I’ftid. No voice bewails them. The country is intent upon a long peace ' unharrpssed financially, and eager for limitation of' American building. It knows the huge unlimited JapaneseAmerican programmes would during difficult years ahead, be an unsupportable nightmare. Lord Northcliffe’s statement that the " Empire would never join the Japanese in war against America remains undisputed. Lord NorthclifTe says in no circumstances whatever is it possible to unite Britain, Canada. Australia, New America on behalf of Japanese. The latter are a young nation able, intelligent, initiative and industrious, but m- . ’ experienced in world politics. They are making bad basic mistakes in trade, if - they are building against America. They lack a sense of proportion.