BRITAIN & AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 13 December 1928, Page 6

BRITAIN & AMERICA

NEKD FOB COO], TIIINKINO

(United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

LONDON, Nov. 20

“It is foolish to pretend that all is well between Britain and America.’ said Viscount Lee of Kareham, when proposing the health ol the United States Ambassador, Mr A. 15. Houghton, at the Newsvendors’ Berevolent Association’s dinner.

“There is much that is unreal and much that is absurd in the present naval controversy,” lie 1 declared.

“Why the excitement over a parity which both approved in 1021 ?” I" asked, continuing. “AYhy the controversy about tons and gnus i

“It is to prepare for war, with a .->O-40 chance of victory for either so' | s this miasma of suspicion the only residue of onr wartime comradeship and of our sympathy with America in 1808? Cannot we dispel it by cool thinking ? “A war between Britain and Amerira would ensure (lie final ruin ol civilisation. Onr people will never sanction an agreement with f ranee, or with any other Power, that would adversely effect the interests of the Pintail f-Ua-t.es. A committee consisting of .Air Baldwin and Mr Hoover, nr of Earl Balfour and Mr C. E. Hughes, the American Secretary 'of State, unembarrassed by naval experts’ could agree, not only regarding disarmament, hut the 'freedom of the

seas. Viscount Lee of Kareham, who unjust completed his sixtieth your, wir First Lord of the Admiralty in 1981 22. He was a British military nttir' . with the American Army during the Spaiiisli-American AYar, and was a British delegate at the \Aashmgton Naval Limitations Conference. He married an American heiress, and gnv< Chequers Court to the nation as * residence for the Prime Minister.