BRITAIN V. AMERICA

Hokitika Guardian, 29 October 1927, Page 3

BRITAIN V. AMERICA

JAPAN AS BRITISH ALLY

(Australian A N.Z. Cable Association.)

LONDON, Oct. 27

‘lt is awful to think of an AngloJapaneso Alliance against America, but we must think about it. if, after 1931, there is no renewal of the Washington Treaty, the world will accept tho possibility of an Anglo-American war.” This is one of the remarkably outspoken passages in a book by Commander Kemvorthy, ALP. entitled ‘Will Civilisation Crash?” The book was published to-day.

Mr If. Q. AA'ells writes a striking introduction, in which lie confesses that lie was taken hv surprise by the Great! Wnr.f 110 < out inucs: “.Then, after four years of stupid, clumsy, inconclusive massacre and destruction, we !mve clung he delusion of the common sense of mankind. I say definitely that I will never again make the mistake of attributing common sense to mankind. If war (ernes in twenty years, people will lie slaughtered in horrible ways—suffocated, torn to ribbons, sent frying for help with frightful mortal mutilations, burned, slashed and left to die under collapsed buildings!” Commander Komvorthy writes: “There is the feeling of hostility, mistrust, fear and jealousy between Anglo Americans that is latent. It is only consciously felt by a. minority in each country. Tint given an appropriate atmosphere—a year’s naval rivalry and war debt bickerings—and this hostility will actively spread, despite the common sense of the masses of the British and the Americans. If the British Empire should bo fighting with her back to the wall, slio would welcome allies anywhere in the world, racial prejudice notwithstanding. England and Japan together could inflict defeat on the American Navy, could occupy the Panama Canal zone, could blockade the American coasts and could hold up commerce. Should Canada be willing, then England and Japan could lend armies on Canadian soil and so invade America. The war would spread over half the world, and. it would end civilisation and ruin human culture.” Commander Kemvorthy continues: ‘ANew York, Baltimore, Boston, Portland anti Atlantic City would be shelled from the sea by submarines fitted with poison gas cylinders. No sooner Would England hear of the suffocation of thirty thousand people on Manhattan Tslantl than American submarines would visit Liverpool oil a similar mission.”

He concludes: “There must bo a Treaty between England and America outlawing war. These two together with Holland and Switzerland, could control the finance of the world as Well as the essential material without which war could not be waged.”

AMERICAN NAVAL’S ANALYSIS

LONDON. Oct. 28. The naval situation in the Pacific is the text of an article by the American, Lieut.-Commander Clifford Tinker, in ‘•Brnssey’s ,'XavaJ Annual.” The writer says: “Not to be outdone by nature’s lavish gifts to Japan, both Britain and the United States at the Washington Conference actually rushed Japan into the position of arbiter of the Far Eastern destinies; but this fateful gift might not be an unmixetl blessing, as Japan is in danger of acquiring naval indigestion. Already her treasury is in difficulties. Japan’s colonies and mandates, which are interfused across the Pacific, threaten America’s territories, and they are not a source of unalloyed comfort to the Dutch East Indies, to Australia and to New Zealand. The combined Pacific Squadrons of Britain, Australia, and New Zealand are little more than a coastguard force.” Commander Tinker continues: “iSncli a small and widely dispersed fleet is a. temptation to those imbued with ulterior motives in Asiatic affairs to engage in an aggressive programme, but. in the event of nil emergency, Britain could send to the Western Pacific such a fleet, with supporting troops, that Japan must cause before precipitating a collision. Nevertheless, nothing but inspired sagacity and self-sacrificing action will suffice for British success in a major naval campaign in the Western Pacific.” ■ Summing up, Commander linker says: “The position is that .Japan is "in a dominating and a secure position. The British Commonwealth is good strategically, but tnctifully i is critical. The United States, both strategically and tactically, is precarious, while France, is hopelessly outclassed. Britain and the United States have to fneo the fact tlm Japan is the keeper of the door! D she closes it, then nothing but a major war can force it open. The present Situation is the most convincing argument for an Anglo-American rapprochement.”

IJ.S.A. navy. WASHINGTON, Oct. 27. President Cool id ge lias disapproved of Admiral Mngrmler’s application lor tho revocation of Naval Secretaij Wilbur’s order to the Adnura o explain his criticisms as to . economy in tho Nary, *nd lias do a tho Admiral’s request for a po.sonal U 'Secret ary Wilbur himself earned the letter of the Admiral to the Piestdent, and after their lons it is generally understood that Pi > dent C’oolidgc wall support Se« eta. y Wilbur in any action "huh *"£; Butler, ut «,e r.S.A. H°'£ Naval Committee is asking h • vest nation by bis Committee.