FORCED TO ARM

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 3, Issue 695, 22 November 1933, Page 4

FORCED TO ARM

Although British statesmen continue to make strenuous efforts to secure the adoption of a disarmament convention it is not a matter -for surprise that the Imperial Cabinet should decide to increase its naval building programme for 1933, in the face of the eontinued activity discolsed in the plans of both the United States of America and Japan. In fact, this definite statement of policy by the First Lord of the Admiralty will be welcomed in the Dominions beyond the seas. The policy of building cruisers of comparatively small tonnage in the hope that other nations would follow the lead indicated has brought Britain to the stage where a definite revision is imperative. Indeed, the Empire has sacrificed its supremacy of the seas as a noble gesture of international goodwill, but either other sea Powers have failed to accept this gesture in the spirit in which it was made, or on the other hand have interpreted it as ill-advised, for surely their professions of a desire for disarmaiheiit are negatived by stimu-

lated naval activity. Admittedly under the terms of the London Naval Treaty, which laid down a limitation of 10,000 tons and 8-inch armaments, both Japan and America have a perfect right to construct cruisers of that description. The salient feature of the position, however, is that while Britain has shown that she merely regards the London Treaty as a step to a further reduction of armaments, and has indicated her intentions in this respeet, the other signatories openly regard the Treaty as the greatest limit to which they are prepared to co-operate in the question of reduction. The spirit of rivalry and mutual distrUst between U.S.A. and Japan is undoubtedly a contributing factor to the situation, and it is interesting in this connection to note that neither of these Powers is an active member of the -League of Nations. Both are vitally interested in the future of the Pacific.