Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1925. EMPIRE’S NAVY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 3 December 1925, Page 4

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3, 1925. EMPIRE’S NAVY.

Any comment on naval affairs coming from so recognised an authority as Earl Jellicoe, must be given serious consideration. His latest contribution to a much-de-bated topic, is an appeal to the overseas Dominions to do more to help the harassed Motherland to pay for the navy which guards the interests of the whole Empire. This is no new appeal, and whatever may have been the case before the great war, the principle of this more equitable division of the financial burden, is now generally accepted. All the overseas parts of the Empire are doing something more than formerly, and recognise that Britain is not now in a position, owing to the war liabilities, to be so generous as before. Points to be settled are what would be a fair thing for each Dominion to pay, what limits should be put on naval expenditure, and what effect will pacts, such as that signed in London, this week, have on armaments? Without being so hard hit as the Motherland, the Dominions are also paying for war costs, and their great need for immediate internal development, lessens the money available for future defence contingencies. Even under the best circumstances the Empire will be compelled to have a navy sufficient to police trade routes. Moreover, the world’s desire for peace is not yet so fully-established that more risks can be taken where British naval strength is concerned. The wiser plan would be to await events, meanwhile. The Admiralty, naturally, want as many ships as they can obtain, and they look at the situation with different eyes than those not responsible for Britannia continuing to rule the waves. No less a person than the Chancellor of 'the Exchequer (Mr. Winston Churchill) thinks that they ask too much, and whilst these experts differ, it will be difficult to arouse public opinion overseas, in favour of largely increased Dominion grants for naval expenditure. Naval Powers have already agreed to some limitation of armaments, and there is a growing demand for a second conference to go further in the desirable direction. Ships like the Hood and the Repulse, may be magnificent and valuable in war- time, but they are terribly costly. If every Power agreed to refrain from building these super-ships, large sums would be saved, and no country would have any advantage over another. It is only a few Powers that can indulge in £7,000,000 warships, and if these Powers solemnly assert that they have no intention of ever fighting against each other, why continue to build Hoods? The Dominions do not wish to evade their responsibilities, and if a strong navy is essenl ial, I hey will do their share towards meeting the cost. Earl Jellicoe’s appeal was published about the same time as the

signing of the Locarno Pact, and the two appear to clash. Naval expenditure must l?e affected by the European situation, and obviously, less armament on sea as well as land is the logical consequence of all the nations agreeing to dwell together in peace and harmony. If the Pact signatories were sincere, the need for naval expenditure, British or foreign, has greatly diminished, and .appeals for further help from the Dominions become almost obsolete.