NAVAL POLICY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LIV, 19 March 1921, Page 5

NAVAL POLICY

BUILDING (iKAPITAL SHIPS UNITED STATES' DKTKHM I.NATION (H> Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Australian & N.Z. Cable Association) LONDON, .March 17. In the House of Commons in Coinmiitce on the Navy Estimates, there was a lively debate regarding building capital .-hips. In view of the United Stales' apparent determination to increase its Navy, Sir Edward Carson urged the House uo> to let the cry of economy interfere with the judgment, :.s to what, the Navy ought to be. It would be the greatest catastrophe that ever happened to Britain if it decided to content itself with being a sectional naval power. We now go to the verge of what was sale.

Mr Asquith said he had not the faintest apprehension that the American Navy was directed or ever -mild be directed against Britain. Parliament was being asked to spend on .the Navy, Army, and Air force, two hundred millions a year. Thai was -ither a large ligure. There never was so favourable an opportunity to bri ig about a reduction of naval annani.mls, limiting them to the bare nece.sM.ies of national security. Mr dynes said Britain was right, to fortifv itself against attack by entering into an arrangement with the United States for a reduction of naval armaments. Mr Bellairs viewed the increase of the Jananeso N«vy as a grave danger. 11' necVssarv, the United States and Britain should ration Urn supply of steel to Japan.