NAVAL CONFERENCE

Hokitika Guardian, 13 February 1930, Page 6

NAVAL CONFERENCE

AMERICAN VIEWS

DIVERGENT OPINIONS.

.United Press Association.—By Electru telegraph.—Copyright.)

(Received this day at 8 a.m.) WASHINGTON, Feb, T2. Asking on lire parity question, “What crimes are to oe committed in thy name,” Senator Borah delivered his first public utterance on the London parley, attacking the American proposal to build another America* battleship. ‘".lf parity can be ' had by a reduction I am for parity. If it can be had only by spending millions on the kind of ships, which never in all human probaility, will be used, then 1 feel no interest in parity. I see no justification for our building or claiming the right to build one battleship. What possible justification can there be for expending large sums of money in building more battleships—a ship which some j of the brightest minds in', the naval world have declared will be obsolb'.e. - Can any reasonable person contemplate the burden which all people are now carrying, due to the armaments, realize the weight now resting upon the taxpayers. Every civilised co intry in the world will then contemplate a useless waste of money in building battleships in the name of parity. Commenting on Senator Borah’s speech, Representative Britton stated if an understanding were reached to allocate a new super-dreadnought to the United States,' which would necessitate the outlay of approximately fifty million dollars, the vessel never would be built. The understanding, according to Mr Britten, would be merely by way of a sop to the American naval enthusiasts. It suggested if the American delegation is “Going to play into the hands of Great Britain, it will be well for them to pack up their trunks and come home,” Mr Britten added he would also oppose the proposed construction of eleven six-inch gun cruisers, since these suited British needs, while the United States needs 10,000 ton cruisrs, with eight eight-inch guns. Ho called the American proposals, patcliwork, and -said he was unable to understand how Mr Stimson could put them forward. Irrespective of preserving the balance in the American fleet, “Scrap the Rodney, that will settle the proposition.’’