NAVAL HOLIDAY UNLIKELY.

Auckland Star, Volume LII, Issue 25, 29 January 1921, Page 7

NAVAL HOLIDAY UNLIKELY.

TOO MANY IDLE IN U.S. MISSION OF SIR A. GEDDES. (Received 10.30 a.m.) LONDON, January 28. Sir Auckland Geddes (British Ambassador to the United States) had interviews with Mr. Lloyd George in Paris on Wednesday and Ihursday. The suggestion that he was sent for to discuss the question of a holiday in naval construction is regarded as inaccurate. The reduction of the American building programme is not considered likely in view of the unemployment which is rife in the States.—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

NEW YORK, January 2S. The President-elect (Mr. W. G. Harding) ,in an article in the " Naval Journal," states: "It is the navy that guarantees us against invasion. We do not want a navy for conquest. We would like to reduce our armaments, but as long as there is need for American national defence we must maintain our navy, not only in its material strength, but in the moral and capacity of its officers.

Mr. W. E. Borah, in a speech in the Senate, declared that the United States could pursue two courses —she could seek an international agreement furthering disarmament, or she could construct a navy able to defend the country against any possible group of enemies. The completion alone of capital ships in the American naval programme would cost 640,000,000d01. This cost was prohibitive. Therefore he would advocate an immediate decision as to just what sort of navy the United States needed, specially in regard to types of ships. "I believe," said Mr. "Borah, "that the masses of the people in the United States, Japan, and Britain favour the abandonment of competitive naval building."—(A. and N.Z. Cable.)

TOO IDEALISTIC. TOKYO, January 28. The *Jiji Shimpo" declares that a member of the Opposition party has submitted a resolution within the party circle, advocating restriction of armaments. The newspaper adds that- it believes that the Majority party opposes the idea on the ground that it is idealistic and impracticable in the existing international situation, which renders an assurance of permanent peace doubtful, the failure of the United States to join the League of Nations making this quite evident. The newspaper concludes that Japan has grave responsibilities in the Far-East, and must complete and amplify her- national defence. —(A. and N.Z. Cable.)