NAVAL AFFAIRS.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19480, 29 November 1928, Page 11

NAVAL AFFAIRS.

BRITAIN AND U.S.A. MEETING SUGGESTED. PRIVATE ADVANCES MADE. (UNITED PRESS ASSOCIATION'—BV ELECTRIC TELEGSAI-H—COPYRIGHT.) (Received November 28th, 7.30 p.m.) WASHINGTON, November 27. Mr Fred A. Britten, chairman of the House of Representatives' Naval Affairs Committee, has sent a private cablegram to Mr Stanley Baldwin, proposing that the Naval Affairs Committee should meet in Canada with the Parliamentary Naval Committee to discuss the cruiser controversy between the United States and Great Britain. Ho stated that he did not consult Mr Coolidge or the State Department before acting thus upon his own initiative, but "prepared the message in my office and sent it as I would any private message." Mr Britten said there was nothing improper in his cablegram, because he acted not only in the capacity of chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee, but also as a vice-president of the Inter-Parliamentary Union. State Department officials recalled an old statute forbidding direct communication between a private citizen of the United States and a foreign Government about State affairs, but suggested that this wis intended to apply to persons revealing information in a harmful way, and Mr Britten was trying to bo helpful. Kegret Over Failure. The cablegram stated: _ "Recalling your publicly expressed desire, on November 14th, for more frequent personal discussions between American and British representatives, and remembering very pleasantly my personal participation in the Inter-Parliament-ary conferences, both here and in Europe, I am impelled to suggest a meeting of the Committee of Naval Affairs in the United States House of Representatives, and a selected committee of members of your Parliament, for the purpose of a friendly discussion, and testimony in _ connexion with applying the principle of equality in sea power between Britain and the United States where not alreadv covered by the Washington Treaty. The meeting could take place, preferably in Canada, after March 4th. 1929. . ' "Each committee will report, with its recommendations, to its 'respective Government, as may now be done annually by various groups in the Interparliamentary Union, where there is so much regret among the people of England and America over the failure of the last Geneva Limitation Conference. "Surely some way should be found of meeting before 1931, when the five leading naval Powers will again assemble at Washington. ,1 will respect your personal desires in connexion with tlieso suggestions."

The Limit of Safety. Explaining his- cablegram, Mr Britton said: "The failure of past limitation conferences has, in many quarters, been attributed to their being composed of military men, and wlyile I do not agree with this presumption, I would prefer that both committees should be composed entirely of nonmilitary men. America's naval policy has never been competitive, but, on the contrary, has always been defensive and barely commensurate with the United States world position. We actually have been backward in promoting new national defence. The American people favour general armament reduction, but only to the limit of safety. Pacifism will never reign in our red-blooded country; if it should we are lost. England and America should lead the way towards naval limitation and a peaceful understanding on the seas. We must never be regarded as military competitors." The "New York Times" Washington correspondent states that Mr Britten's course is likely to arouse resentment in the Administration and bring the accusation that his proposal is intended to give him nublicity. "Tt goes wtihout saying." the correspondent continues, "that Senate will be provoked to say least over the proposal. The House alone should represent the United States in suggesting an international Conference."—Australian Press Association.

THE FIRST INTIMATION. (Received November 28th, 10 p.m.) OTTAWA, November 27. Canadian Government officials state that the suggestion by the United States representative, Mr Britten, that there should be a conference in Canada between the United States Naval Affairs Committee and the British Naval Parliamentary Committee on the cruiser controversy is the first intimation here of any proposal for such a meeting. The suggestion is viewed in official circles as a "very interesting one." —• Australian Press Association, United Service. NAVAL PERSONNEL. BIG DECREASE IN BRITAIN. (B3ITISH OFFICIAL WIRELESS.) RUGBY, November 28. Mr W. C. Bridgeman, First Lord of tlie Admiralty, replying to a question in the House of Commons, gave the personnel of the navies of the big Powers in July 1914, and July this year. In round figures they were: —

Replying to a further question, Mr Bridgeinan said that he had always tried to point out that this country had done more in the direction of disarmament than any other, and as regarded the future, he would do his best to see that this country was secure.

1914. 1928. Great Britain ... 146.000 101,000 United States ... 67;000 113,000 Japan ; ... 50.000 85,000 France ... 69;coo 62,000 Italy ... 40,000 46,000