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Hokitika Guardian, 28 November 1927, Page 2

Tub three principal parties in the Genera C.mterence. which taibd, were Great Britain, the t'nited States' and .1 a]nin. In a study of tin* world's naval situation it. is ol interest to recall that for a considerable time Great Britain and Japan were in close alliaii(*c, and v.c know llie foreign nation

kept the pact when the stern necessity

a rose. Mr ConUo at Auckland a week ago, recalled with gratitude how Julian conveyed the New Zealand troops overseas, and at. the same time the Japanese Navy was at band to shadow New Zealand shores when menaced by enemy ships in the early stages ol the war. The Dominion tints had a real test of the efficiency ot the naval alliance. and since then various complications with regard to naval matters have arisen. Had the Anglo-.lapanese ami oomen L subsisted, many disturbing queslions-iiow at issue,'would not. have arisen. Yet the triendly gesture by Britain to the United Stales in this matter lias not borne the limit it should. Quite the contrary, America has seized the opening and endeavours to take advantage of it. We should he surprised if the lesson ol the occasion is not taken to heart by responsible British statesmen, and though it may not be stressed publicly, it still lurks in the back of their minds where it remains a not uniisefiil warning not to be too rash in the future. The United States aims at having the greatest navy in the world! It lias the wealth to make an ,omnipotent naval power as far as numbers go, but why this ambition, and at whom to strike? If America is unreasonaole along these lines it can only cause another AngloJapanese bargain to be struck, and so create fresh possiblit ies of useless war. All this indicates that Britain is not the sole Power to he considered or alone hlamenble. If the United Stales ranged under the League of Nations organisation, for instance, what a different aspect would result. But while she docs not, Britain has problems in other directions which suggest that to ensure security, disarmament is not the first consideration in defence matters.