Strong Navy Required For America

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 80, 5 April 1938, Page 7

Strong Navy Required For America

Country Must Be Realistic SPHERE OF ACTIVITY SHOULD NOT BE LIMITED Unitod Press Association—By Eleetxlc Telegraph.—Copyrlarnt. Received Monday, 8.25 p.m. WASHINGTON, April 3. In a statement to the Senate Naval Committee the State Department declared that the United States must maintain a fleet at least 60 per cent, more powerful than Japan’s as long a 3 the tense political situation in the Pacific and Far East continues. “Irrespective of what may be the future disposition of the Philippines, it is believed to be in the interest of the security, of the Unted States to adhere to the principle of the 5-5-3 ratio unless the Pacific political situation is so altered to permit any agreement on some other basis, it said. “The Government will welcome an agreement to reduce naval arms, but does not consider a world Disarmament Conference at present would be timely. Arms limitation must be relative by joint action of the principal naval Powers.

“America must be sufficiently realistic in appreciation of the international situation to wish to bolster her own security pending a reversal of policy by the principal armed Powers offering some hope that a further general effort at disarmament would not be illusory.” The statement attacked attempts by a House bloc to establish a naval frontier, beyond which the fleet would not operate except in the event of war. “Practical application of this principle to circumscribe the activity of the American Navy behind an imaginary Chinese wall would expose American citizens to attack everywhere in the world outside the wall,” it stated. WELL FIGHT WITH BRITAIN AMERICA’S ATTITUDE Per Press Association. AUCKLAND, Last Night. “We will fight alongside Britain if the totalitarian States attack her, but we shall not sign any pacts,” said Colonel George Roslington, United States Army, retired, who with Mrs. Roslington. arrived by the Niagara. “When President Wilson uttered his famous phrase during the Great War: ‘We must make the world safe for democracy,’ he little realised what significance it would have in 1938,” the Colonel said. “Ten years ago it would have been almost treason for an American to say that America would fight against Britain’s aggressors. To-day it is generally accepted.” Colonel Roslington said it was the general belief in his country that Germany, Italy and Japan represented definite perils to democratic countries such as Great Britain, United States and France. It seemed to the average American that, unless the democracies of the world bestirred themselves it would be a case of the totalitarian States combining to put an end to democracy. “Make no mistake about it; I believe we have a full working agreement with Great Britain,” he added, “but we shall have nothing to do with wars that do not concern us. That is the predominant feeling in America to-day. Most of us believe there is a strong political understanding between the United States and Britain, although no pact has been signed. Nor will there be dne as far as I am able to judge.”