NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 March 1928, Page 7

NAVAL ARMAMENTS.

BRITAIN AND U.S.A

MIC WILBUR DEFENDS HIS PROGRAMME. •n’ CArtl.fi PUBS? ASSnOiA" ion --COPYHIGH" NEW YORK, March 6. Speaking at the Republican Club at Ray City (Michigan), Mr. C. 0. Wilbur. Secretary for the Navy, answered critics of his' naval programme. In the course of his speech lie cited Great Britain’s statement at Geneva regarding the need lor warships and the outlining of the means she would adopt to meet this need. He said: ‘Tf in this solemn fashion we were advised that the nation with which we expected parity in all branches of the navy intended to build more ships of a greater tonnage than we desire or expected to build, why should our announcement that we intended to build fewer ships ox less tonnage than Great Britain he considered provocative? Why is it that some citizens ot the United States seem to feel that Great Britain is to be trusted with a large programme ratlier than the United with one of similar or less dimensions?”

The speaker asked what new factor in world affairs had appeared to cause Great Britain apprehension:-' “The German fleet has disappeared,” he added. “and we find it difficult to reconcile the British conviction that war is already outlawed between us with their present unwillingness to recognise our rights beyond limiting the number and type of ships we would desire.” C ontinuing his speech, Mr "Wilbur stated: ■ “I should like to take this occasion, in the name of the American delegation at the Geneva naval conference. to express once more our appreciation of the Japanese delegation for the proposals they brought forward and supported relative to low tonnage limitation.” He said: “We feel that the firm desire of their country to effect limitation of armament at or below existing levels will have a profound influence.”