SECURITY CAN BE BOUGHT TOC DEAR

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 6844, 23 February 1929, Page 9

SECURITY CAN BE BOUGHT TOC DEAR

Naval Rivalry FRANKNESS WOULD LEAD TO ECONOMY ANOTHER “BIG NAVY” PUSH. United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright. Received Friday, 9.20 p.m. WASHINGTON, Feb. 21. What is considered a revival of the effort to bring Mr. Wilbur’s original shipbuilding programme again into attention is contained in a letter to the Secretary from Mr. Representative Black, asking .that the former recommend to Mr. Hoover that the fleet should be built up to parity with that of Great Britain.

Mr. Black insisted a 71 programme was “requisite now, in view of the attitude of the British Foreign Office.” “Until there is a binding international code, Britain’s superior fleet represents a maurader in pre-civilise'd days. Wo must, in the interest of oui own economic comfort, bo able to offset the challenge expressed to it by the British Navv.”

Mr. Britten, in a further discussion on the naval question, said: “Personally, I agree with the ex-Prime Minister of Australia, Mr. Hughes, in his declaration tha t every- additional American warship is an added guarantee for the peace of the world and the security of the British Empire but for the sake of our respective taxpayers, we want this form of guarantee to be as small and cheap as possible. All sensible people support an adequate police force but they do not want to spend a dollar or a pound more than is necessary on their police. With common sense and frankness, the same economy may be exercised regarding navies.”