Britain Now the Driving Force

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 80, 25 June 1927, Page 9

Britain Now the Driving Force

POSITION FULLY GRASPED “THE BIG THREE” By Cable. —Press Association. —Copyright GENEVA, Thursday. The more that is learned of events behind the scenes at the Naval Conference, the more obvious it becomes that Britain has entirely taken over the initiative and driving force from the United States, although the latter was the Power which convened the gathering.

It is no secret that the American naval delegates, in their c o n v e rsations with the international journalists, have cut a n indifferent figure compared with Earl Jellicoe and Admirals Field and Egerton. These are Britain’s “B i g

The full and detailed grasp they have they possess of every aspect of the naval positions, present and future, of all the three Powers concerned, has created a most favourable impression upon publicists and journalists. The plain fact emerges that Britain had made the most complete and thorough study of the problems involved in readiness for a naval disarmament conference of her own calling before Mr. Coolidge, President of the United States, issued his invitations. AMERICA’S UNDIGESTED SCHEMES On the other hand, the American delegates came to Geneva with illprepared ' and undigested schemes. Therefore no one was surprised to learn that Admiral Field was immediately appointed chairman of the technical committee. An unfortunate comparison between the calibre of the American naval delegates and that of the British is shown by the Americans’ support of the “red herring” somebody produced, namely, that Britain, with her vast mercantile marine, can most quickly acquire the equivalent of increased cruiser strength by mounting guns on liners. Although the Americans will not admit it, the real issue behind the desire of the United States for cruiser strength is said to be her lack of naval bases throughout the world, and her consequent feeling that she must have a wider range of ships than Britain with her bases in every ocean. FRENCH NEWSPAPERS CYNICAL Specialists are dealing with cruisers and other technical questions. For destroyers and submarines, technicians are expected to report on a basis of agreed facts almost Immediately. The Powers will then be in possession of information as to the position of each regarding auxiliary ships built, now being built, or authorised. . .Britain’s policy of frankness and her desire ultimately to induce France and Italy to join the convention which is expected to result from the conference are shown by the fact that the observers of those two nations have been admitted to the proceedings of the technical committee. So far, however, this has not modified the sarcasm of the French Press. “Le Temps” is moderately critical, but the more popular newspapers do not hesitate to congratulate France on not having joined in what they term “the Geneva farce.” They cynically declare that when it comes to an end, they will know what to do.—A. and N.Z.

“A PEACEABLE DESCENT”

ALL THAT BRITAIN CAN DO By Cable.—Press Association.—Copyright NEW YORK, Thursday. The New York “World” publishes a remarkable leading article on the Geneva Naval Conference. The writer says: “The economic position and growing power of the United States make it certain that Britain cannot maintain in the 20th century the same relative predominance in the world which she enjoyed in the 19th century. “All that Britain’s statesmen can do is to take measures which will render peaceable Britains descent ♦ from supremacy to parity, and America’s ascent to an equal share in the world’s affairs. “The Washington Conference was the first phase and the present Geneva Conference is the second phase of that great transition. God willing other phases will be as reasonable as these. “The supreme test of statesmanship in this generation will turn on the point whether the parity of the United States with Britain, which is inevitable, is to become an equality of co-operating partners or a conflict of rivals. That it ought to be an equality of co-operation goes without saying, for rivalry between English-speaking peoples so equally matched in power would be the worst disaster which could befall mankind.” —A. and N.Z.