NEW ERA.
REDUCING ARMAMENTS. BRITAIN JOINS AMERICA. TO STOP NAVAL EXPANSION. St Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright., London, Dec. 29. Britain's answer to the American suggestion for the limitation of naval armaments has been an immediate and definite affirmative. Public men of all parties blessed the proposal, the church, Press, labor and commerce spontaneously advocating it and every newspaper opening its columns to the discussion. No correspondent can be found optimistic enough to assert that Britain will be able to finance, without the gravest risks, the stupendous effort of such a competitive building programme as outlined by Japan.
The American Government has, been working for some time for an agreement, confident that Anglo-American relations would improve and refusing to believe that war between Britain and America was possible. This improvement has definitely arrived. Mr. Harding's unofficial envoys to Europe indicate a strong policy oi friendship and trust.
Surprise has been felt at the avidity with which Japan accepted the idea. The immediate entry of the Japanese Ambassador into the arena and his daily repetition of Japan's willingness to sign the agreement suggests that important official conversations preceded the public ventilation of the idea.
Another surprise has been Mr. Walter Long's message to America declaring that Britain, although an island power entirely dependent on the ocean ftighwayß, is willing to accept a standard of equal strength with the next Power.
j Thus are the ghosts of old political controversies regarding the two-keel standard laid and no voice > bewails them. The country is intent upon a long peace. It is harassed financially and eager for the limitation of American building. It knows huge unlimited Japanese and American progress would during the difficult years ahead be an insupportable nightmare. Lord Northcliffe's statement that the Empire would never join the Japanese in a war against America remains undiiputed. Lord Northcliffe says that (in no circumstances whatever is it possible to unite Britain, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa against America on behalf of the Japanese.
The latter are a young nation able and intelligent with initiative and in- | dustry, but inexperienced in world polities. They are making bad basic mistakes in tt-ade and, if they are building against America, they lack a sense of proportion. New York. Dec. 28. A mpsssfge from Marion, Ohio, states that Congressman Kelly,■ member of the Naval Affairs Committee of tlie House of Representatives,'after consulting Mr. Harding regarding naval matters, said that {he Republican leaders plan to scrap Mr. Daniels' proposals for naval expansion and will not authorise any new shjps. They will reduce the 1921 appropriations to 50 million dollars below the 1920 figures and also reduce the naval personnel to 100,000.
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Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 5
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442NEW ERA. Taranaki Daily News, 31 December 1920, Page 5
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