NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Hokitika Guardian, 28 January 1929, Page 3

NAVAL AFFAIRS.

BRITAIN AND AMERICA

SENATOR BORAH’S CONCERN

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

WASHINGTON, January 24

A proposal to write into the Fifteen Cruiser Bill a declaration that Congress favours a restatement of the international, law on the rights of neutrals at sea was offered in the Senate; to-day by Senator Borah. The provisions of the proposal would recommend that a restatement he made before the Naval Conference in 1931. Senator Borah said that the need for a restatement of the law was apparent, because the United States and Britain, he said, were: “On the eve of a naval race not dissimilar to that between Britain and Germany from 1905 to 1914.” Senator Borah attributed the uneasiness noiv existing in the world over the naval strength of the principal Powers to the lack of a sea law plainly setting forth the rights of the neutral Powers during war. “If no such restatement and no agreement for disarmament are obtained,” Senatoi Borah said, “the United States would undoubtedly build a Navy large enough to protect its commerce.” Under any circumstances, lie said, lie would vote for the Fifteen Cruiser Bill if the time clause eliminated stipulating that the construction of the cruisers be started within three years.

BORAH’S STAND

WASHINGTON, January 24

With the beginning of the general debate on the Cruiser Bill in the Senate to-day, Senator Borah made it clear that other issues though of a co-relatcd nature will he injected into the discussion. He thus introduced his amendment declaring it to be the sense of the Senate that a remodification and a reinstatement of international maritime law should be made before the next- disarmament conference. hut whether the remainder of the Senate Naval Committee will approve of it, is still a matter for conjecture. Senator Borah, said: “If we cannot have agreement regarding the freedom of the seas and if the safety of our commerce must depend entirely on our navy, we will build a navy superior to Britain, but before we start on a naval race, we should make an effort to reach such an agreement.” He intimated that there were “unmistakable signs, of such a race.” Senator Borah referred to there being jingoism on both sides of the water, and he added- “ While, all the sources of controversy between our nations cannot he removed. this one can. This uneasiness, this disturbance, to my mind founded on the condition now eisting on sea with reference to maritime law. There is no such thing as a guide to the operations of commerce, and matters are just where they were when the world war closed.” Senator Borah also came out against fixing a time limit within which the fifteen cruisers reached with other nations on the ground that an agreement might be reached with other nations on the armament quota and freedom of the seas, and he desired to leave it to the judgment of the President as to whether the cruiser programme might, not be cancelled intrinsically. Senator Borah said he wanted cruisers to be built only to replace the. obsolete vessels. Thus Senator Borah is technically considered an enemy of the cruiser programme. Yet the opponents of the cruiser measure cannt he certain of Senator Borah’s continuous support, for he makes it clear that if a freedom-of-the-sea agreement cannot be reached, he will hack the cruiser building and will oppose any effort to reduce the proposed fifteen cruisers to any number below a minimum of ten.

NEEDS OF THE NATION

THE OFFICIAL VIEW

NEW YORK, Jan. 23. A message from Camden, New Jersey, states that at the launching or the cruiser Salt Take City, canning ten eiglit-ineh guns, which is planned to be completed by July, the Secretary of the TJ.S.A. Navy, Mr Wilbur, statedl speak for the man in uniform, who lias taken the oath to defend the nation and to sustain all its sacred rights. We must give him utensils and implements to carry out his sworn duty. I hold it our hist dpty to protect our own protectoi. Senator Smoot said he heartily favoured the Cruiser Bill, which would still leave the United States weaker in naval strength than Britain or Japan. He added: “ I must confess that 1 cannot understand the pacifist group opposing a measure that is so vital to the nation’s needs. Ihey shout peace, but I cannot see lioiv America is to have peace unless our industry, trade and shipping receive the full measure of protection they deserve.” 'Hie passage of the Prohibition Enforcement Bill in the Senate lias permitted the Cruiser Bill to take first place in the Senate, and an immediate drive for its enactment is promised by Chairman Hale of the Naval Committee. The signs of a filibuster have died down, hut a stubborn fight is expected.