The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1927. AFTER GENEVA.

Hokitika Guardian, 10 August 1927, Page 2

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast Times. WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 1927. AFTER GENEVA.

:n| il it is not surprising to find some i <‘f the British criticism (outside tlie diplomats) growing somewhat heated, it would appear Irom the pointed remarks ol both Uord Balfour and Earl .leliitue that the American naval leader in addition to faring obviously to understand the British case at the right time, also distorted certain remarks ’which placed an unfair moaning on Britain’s case. Naturally the leading delegates on both sides have indulged in a good deal of polite camouflage witli the manifest intention ol “saving face.” so far as may be. for tneir respective Governments. But the. v lias not emerged out of this coiiItirl i.l opinions any uniformly accepted decision to reduce navies or to lessen expenditure, to any material ox-t'-iit. upon naval purposes in the future. Historians will no doubt - busy themselves in apportioning the blame tor the techie and humiliating outcome ol what seemed at lirst to be a noble international enterprise. But whatever view writers and thinkers a later day may take about the reasons tor this failure public opinion to-day outside the United States Is fairly unanimous in charging tile responsibility to the Americans. There

is. however, an exception to this. German admiral proceeds to place the blanie on Britain, 1.-at lie accuses England for doing exactly what it is necessary to do t> safeguard her trade routes. If Britain had not the ships to master the German marauders, obviously Great Britain could not have won the war on the sea. Knowing her needs from practical experience wo have at once the need and the necessity for a certain cruiser strength, not for attack but for defence, which Britain has plainly laid down as requisite. I lie British press has certainlv been most moderate in its critieism of the progress of events at Geneva. In fact tolerant, putting up with the American attitude to the last. Some of the

European press has not been so circumspect. Seme of the French newspapers have been more outspoken. ‘'Lo Journal” for instance, has publicly condoled with Britain on the treatment- that she has received. --It is tragic that Britain stands alone face to face with an America, whose Wage- - Imperialism is no longer content with a fleet rivalling that of Japan, but must strive for supremacy over Britain.” These are bard words, and vet they can be almost completely justified from the months of the Americans themselves. As was remarked the other day. Air Frank Simonds. one of the ablest American journalists and publicists of the age. openly admitted that the American .standard of naval strength is “not"a question of national security, but of national prestige.” and that the American programme “is not based on potential dangers, l on national pride.” And that is precisely why the Naval Conference appears to have broken down. There is another aspect, and that is the contemplated exit of Mr Coolidge. The

secret of the proposed retirement from the Presidency was kept well, and only until the eve of the announcement of the break-down of the Geneva Conference. There was no kudos coming from the European meeting, and before this was definitely out, the American nation had its thrill in the sudden and unexpected announcement that President Coolidge had decided not- to stand for another term of office. According to his own statement, he is unwilling to come into conflict with the strong traditional prejudice against a third tenure of the Presidential Chair. \\ hen he was called from comparative seclusion to fill the high office opened to him by President Harding’s death he had the reputation of a reserved, sonsi t i ve, sel f-con trolled, rolat i vel.v unambitious man; ami nothing in his public career has .suggested that lie enjoys 1 1 is present distinction or the use o the far-reaching powers placed in his hands. He can he autocratic enough and obstinate enough on occasion. But he is not of the -Roosevelt type, and where Roosevelt failed it is very unlikely that Coolidge could .succeed. We may assume also, agrees a contemporary, that the collapse of the Naval Conference has not only damaged his prestige, but wounded his self-esteem, and it is rather more than a coincidence that just at this juncture he should announce his resolve to retire into private life. Far that reason there seems to lie some connection between the two events.