The Daily News. MONDAY,. DECEMBER 19, 1921. THE NAVAL RATIO.

Taranaki Daily News, 19 December 1921, Page 4

The Daily News. MONDAY,. DECEMBER 19, 1921. THE NAVAL RATIO.

The proceedings in connection with the Washington Conference present a striking contrast to those which usually characterise Parliamentary debates. One of the reasons for the difference is the freedom from party spirit, there being no incentive to create differences of opinion, but a distinct endeavor to find a common ground of agreement, to smooth over divergent views and to arrive at a conclusion that will accomplish the end in view. In effect the Conference is an object lesson in the highest form of statesmanship, and'as such setsan example that Parliamentarians might well .follow. The subject of a naval holiday was one that might well have presented insuperable difficulties, yet step by step the delegates went forward, occasionally halting on reaching exceptionally difficult phases, though always keeping the furrow well turned and pressing forward to completion. It has to be remembered that both America and Japan had formulated extensive programmes for enlarging their respective fleets by the addition of capital ships involving an enormous expenditure, while the jmost that Britain had in view—and then only at the urgent insistence of the Premiers’ Conference—was the building of four warships of the Hood class. Britain was thus in an exceptional position to exercise considerable influence in favor of a naval holiday from shipbuilding, while America at once proclaimed her willingness to “down tools” in her naval yards. It was only necessary to convert Japan to the same line of action—or rather inaction —in order to have the way clear for defining what the relative strength of the three great Naval Powers should be during the ensuing decade. This was by no means an easy matter owing to Japan being extremely sensitive over the matter of naval status. Once, however, the obvious equality of Britain and America was accepted, Japan was placed in a position whereby she could only expect that her ratio should be less. Practically from the time of the original announcement of the five, five, three principle, Japan recognised its fairness, but she placed determined stress on her desire to have her latest capital ships, the Mutsa and Nagata, included in her number, which would involve America and Britain building two more battleships, with a corresponding reduction in the tonnage of all three nations. As the object of the Conference was to keep down the naval building programmes, the new proposals imposed on the naval experts a formidable and complicated task. There was no doubt as to an agreement being reached, the main point being that the final arrangement should not be sueh as to. create any feeling of soreness on the part of Japan. Tn the end this was accomplished by America consenting to Japan retaining the Mutsu, thereby allaying the intense feeling which bad arisen in Japan,* the difficulty as to maintaining the agreed ratio being overcome by scrapping older tonnage, while America is to keep two of her newest battleships, and Britain is at liberty to construct two super-Hoods, or adopt a new type of warship falling within the thirty-five thousand tons proviso in Mr. Hughes’ plan. The solution of the problem may seem extremely easy to the lay mind, though it is quite conceivable it was a very intricate matter to decide. The many millions that will be saved by this naval holiday agreement arc urgently needed foi other and more essential purposes. At the same time one of the most advantageous results of this friendly conference is that it has brought the three chief Naval Powers of the world into a wiser and better frame of mind, tending to closer and more harmonious relations, whereby the cause of peace has been well served. France is quite aware of the fact that her interests will be in safe keeping, while Italy will be satisfied to be on the same naval footing as France. On the whole the work accomplished in arriving at an 1 agreement on this question cannot be too highly applauded. It is in every way worthy of tll“ new spirit of the age.