U.S. NAVAL PARITY

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XIX, Issue 64, 2 March 1929, Page 5

U.S. NAVAL PARITY

TO GUARD AMERICAN INTERESTS BY ABOLISHING BRITISH BLOCKADES. (‘NEITHER ENEMY NOR FRIEND.” [United Press Association—By Cable— Copyright.) [Australian and N. 4 Press Association.) (Received 2, 8.55 a.m.) London, March 1. Mr Frank Simonds, foreign editor of the American “Review of Reviews,” in a letter to the “National Review” says: “Tho explanation of the American demand for naval parity is that tho mass of Americans do not believe that they have any responsibility for maintaing peace in Europe. They have further resolved that the next time Europe goes to war British naval power shall not make the United States a co-belliger-ent with Britain. American politicians are well nigh unanimous that British sea power in 1812, 1861, and 1914-15 exercised a powerful and even a controlling influence to the detriment of American interests. They calculate that, if our fleet is equal to the British, any British Government will be compelled to refrain from interfering with what Americans regard as their rights. 1

MEANING OF U.S. NAVAL POLICI

Thus, while the American fleet is not being built against Britain in peace, it is very deliberately being built against Britain at war. Tho fleet is being built for the express purpose of abolishing the traditional British blockade.

“It is a matter of supreme indifference to Americans whether the next European war is clothed with the moral authority of the League of Nations. We should see the League decisions procured by the superior dip lomatic skill of the nations.

. “It is equally a mistake for Englishmen to think of the United States as an enemy or as a friend: rather she should be regarded as a power with a policy dictated by certain unmistakeable material psychological fac tors.”

(The U.S.A, cruiser construction programme will be found on page 7.)