The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast limes. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1929. NAVAL POWER.

Hokitika Guardian, 19 February 1929, Page 4

The Guardian And Evening Star, with which is incorporated the West Coast limes. TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1929. NAVAL POWER.

I'llii naval race lor power is receiving a great deal of attention. The question has obtruded into American polities where it is a very prominent plank. y in particular, the United States makes rather a “dead set” against Great Britain's naval proposals, and politicians m America are endeavouring always to make political capital out oi the general situation. A northern contemporary in reviewing the position points nit that six years ago the Great Powers, meeting in conference at Washington, agreed on a a cheme for the limitation and reduction ol naval annamenus, with the object of preventm, war. Since then further efforts have been made in tlm direction of ensuring the world’s peace., and a short time since the Kellogg Pact for the outlawry of war "as accepted amid general rejoicing. But now, in spite oi all this, the Powers seem to ho still engaged in a struggle for naval supremacy, and they are providing for future expenditure upon naval purposes 011 a larger scale to-day than at any time since the close of the Great War. Tlii.tcndcncy towards naval expansion lias been strikingly illustrated by the United States. Jn spite of the Kellogg Pact and the strong anti-war movement in America, the “uig navy” party lias insisted on due preparation for all contingencies so successfully that Mr Coolldge has been induced to sign a Naval Bill providing for further construction in a very generous fashion. The only redeeming leature of this incident is that a reservation has been introduced into the Bill permitting the President to stop building operations “if a disarmament agreement is readied will, the Powers.” At the same time there is a strong demand for increased naval expemiitue in Italy. France and Japan : and Germany, in spite of the restrictions imposed at Versailles, is projecting cruiser construction on a scale that is alarming to her neighbours and cannot ho justified by the requirements of her seaborne commerce. As a fitting conclusion to this list it may be added that Britain is now laying down two. heavy cruisers which, according to wellinformed authorities, would not have been constructed if it had not boon necessary for Britain to keep up with the pace set by the others Powers. It must be admitted that, to those who “lo.e peace and ensure it.’’ all this is very disquietening. And it is particularly embarrassing •uid disappointing to the very large numbers of people in Britain and America who won?.] regard war between the two great sections of the English-speaking peoples as unspeakable and unthinkable. A way out of the difficulty has been suggested by l/ird Cecil, who holds that “absolute complete mathematical equality, both in tens and guns,” should he the aim of the two countries- and that on this basis full and final agreement could be reached. But as the “Manchester Guardian” lias pointed out, “parity” would he likely “to provoke rather than to a Mow mutual suspicions and distrust” unless the “will-to-peaec” were permanently and universally established. If' once the nations are firmly resolved to avoid war at all costs, the absolute or relative size of their various fleets will make little difference either to their security or to the world’s ptois|w.‘icls of an enduring peace. But there are always those in America seeking to inflame the public mind against Britain as the arch cirmy in any possible future war, and so we find the “set” against Britain’s naval proposals. There i*s a story told which rather illustrates the

prejudices against Great Britain. The chief American advocate of a “big navy.” Mr F. A. Britten. Chairman of tuo Naval Committee of the House of Representatives. has just been denouncing the British Press for misrepresenting American public opinion and circulating false reports about American naval policy. Here is a little item on the other side of the account that may nave escaped Air Britten’s notice. For three years after the Washington Conference a report was assiduously circulate!'! throughout the United Stales that the British Admiralty imd broken me spirit of the naval limitation agreement by elevating the big guns on ilr warships. After three years Air Kellogg, as Secretary of State, convinced himself that the charge was unfounded, and published an official contradiction, which was sent in the ordinary 1-nurse to all the American newspapers. But a contributor to “Harper’s Monthly.” after a careful search, could discover Afr Kellogg’s correction in only two American journals—tile rest were discreetly silent. In the opinion of Air Bent, it might bo assumed that “editors, after repeating for years n damaging untruth about n foreign Government. would feel a certain moral nb'mntiop to print a correction.” But Air Bril ten ought to know that this is ”e> tno wav the tiling is done in America.