THE NAVY LEAGUE

Evening Post, Volume CI, Issue 50, 28 February 1921, Page 7

THE NAVY LEAGUE

RECONSIDERED POLICY

INTERNATIONAL AGREEMENT

FAVOURED

(FRO3I OUR OWN CORMEPtHTOENT.)

LONDON, 7th January. In view of the changed conditions of international affairs in the world to-day, the Navy League, which before the war was foremost'in urging naval preparedness, has now reconsidered its policy, and the Executive Committee of the league has briefly set out its deliberations thus:— ;

With tho disappearance of the German Fleet the world's naval position is changed, and to-day civilisation is not threatened by any maritime Power. There is no alternative to competitive building of chips of war except an international naval agreement, and this applies to whatever typo of ship is considered to dominate the sea position for the moment, for there is increasing certainty that new • inventions will render obsolete, at shorter notice^ all existing or contemplated ship.?, but this will simply divert competition into new 'channels, as it always has done.

The term "Command o£ the Seas" conveys to ttn ill-informed public simply tho possession, at any time, of • the greatest number of ships, but the embracing of the doctrine by any country either invites competition by, or de* mands acquiescence from, other countries, since the High Seas are neutral in times of peace.'

The use of. the terms "defence,", "security," and "adequate navy" necessitates compMison with other navies, and must result in competition. In the spring of 1917, when the danger from the "U" boats was at its highest, there-was given to the English and American seamen especially an opportunity of bearing remarkable witness to the influence o£ that sea spirit of brotherhood which is their common birthright and heritage; this wae undoubtedly one of the most significant lessons of the war. PROPOSED CONFERENCE. The Navy League holds that the time is now specialty favourable for taking advantage of this lesson, and that it is for these two nations to give the lead in proposing a conference between all those Powers whoso geographical positions impose upon them the guardianship of the seas, and to decide in what way this-joint guardianship may best be c^jried out. There is no doubt that the spirit which makes for co-operation is to be found in greater measure amongst seamen than among the members of any other calling, for their oldest traditions are built on. it. For this reasoD it is held that, the proposed conference should be largely composed of seamen who have held high commands at sea. IDEALISM OR WORLD SUICIDE. Let it never be forgotten that peace must be paid for as well as war, but the sacrifices involved are generally avoided by describing them as "visionary" or "idealism" and beyond the range of those practical polities which have brought the world to its present position. It would seem, however, ■ that science, as applied to destructive agencies, is forcing us ever more rapidly to the conclusior that the highest idealism of all is the only practical alternative to world suicide. The Navy League holds that the sea story in the paei of Britain and the United States imposes on them mutually the duty of attempting to render to the world a still greater service, and for this reason it urges that the invitation to the proposed conference should come from the two great Anglo-Saxon nations jointly.