UNITY OF ANGLO-SAXONS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17213, 15 July 1919, Page 9

UNITY OF ANGLO-SAXONS

AMERICA'S NAVAL POLICY. CO-OPERATION WITH BRITAIN. LEAGUE'S MOBILE POLICE FORCE. The possibility of a naval competition between the United States and Britain was ridiculed by Mr. Josephus Daniels, Secretary of the United States Navy, during his recent visit to England. A statement on the subject of the American Naval Budget was made by Mr. Daniels to Representatives of the British press. "The Naval Bill, with a £600,000,000 estimate for new construction," said Mr. Daniels, " has a provision, which I helped to draw UP ' providing that if the League of Nations is established it is in the discretion of the President to say that all the new ships may not. be constructed. When the Estimates were drawn up the armistice had not been signed, and it ■was a question for each country to decide independently what it should 'do. I remember when Mr. Winston Churchill advocated a vacation in naval building in J-»W. I approved of it in our country and asked, 'Why a vacation? Why not fn international agreement which would oe of permanent assistance by agreements tor such navies as would be sufficient to guarantee the world's peace?' Guarding the World's Peace. "It is unthinkable that any nation under the League should undertake competitive naval building based on suspicion and distrust. I think that the day when the League of Nations was agreed to nnanunonaly—which is the greatest event wnicn any generation has witnessed for centuries—will make unnecessary the tremendous expenditure of money by each nation. Of course, we must have in the League of Nations a mobile police force. We must follow the example of that great American soldier in the Revolution who advised his soldiers to 'Trust in God and keep your powder dry.* But in the early days of the League of Nations we must not forget that there may linger in tne mind of some nation a desire for conquest or an unwillingness to submit to arbitration for the sake of the world's peace. The greatest pressure, of course, will be economic and social: but there must be behind that, certainly in the early days, a sufficient mobile navy of free nations to see that we are not going to have any more wars like the last When nations realise the fate of Osesars Napoleons, and Kaisers they will not be so ready to enter into the idea of dominating the world." .Mr. Daniels also spoke at a luncheon given m his honour bv the AngloAmerican Society in London. Mr. Daniels, said that day was the anniversary of the battle of Manila Bay, and upon every ship flying the Stars and Stripes that day there would be fitting recognition thereof. Alluding to a remark which had fallen from Lord Bryce regarding the action of Manila Bay, he said the German Admiral sought to embarrass the American Admiral. They recalled the conduct of that great British officer Admiral Chichester, whose name was as much honoured to-day in America as in Great Brita*n-. The German Admiral called upon Admiral Chichester and asked him. "What will you do if I move my ships over to where Admiral Dewey's flagship, the Olympian, is anchored?" The British Admiral was a diplomat, as were most naval officers, and he replied to the German in two words : Ask Dewev " (Laughter and cheers.) Unity of Two Navies.

It was a delphic answer to those who did not understand the significance of it, but if he might say so, it was very illuminating. They could never forget that Dewey's victory was secured bv the cooperation and the fine spirit of the British Admiral. When the third Liberty Loan was launched in America the challenge was " Match the Navy." He proposed as the sentiment of this hour, " Match the Navy— Navy both of your countrv and of my country." He did not know'what we should call this war in history, but he trusted and believed that it would be called " the great war against war." The ships of the two navies had different Hags, but they were united in everything, and tbey might as well have sailed' under one flag. They were united in sentiment and in valour, and their flag was that of the Anglo-Saxon people fighting for Anglo-Saxon liberty. Their men had brought back a spirit of comradeship, and to the motto " Match the Navy" might be added to-day another, : - Hands across the sea and brotherhood with Great Britain." Ten years ago Admiral Sims, at a banquet in London, made a speech in which he said that if the time ever came when the soil of Great Britain was threatened with invasion, the American people would fight with the English people shoulder to shoulder. Nor did they forget that the admiral was rebuked for that speech. The records in Washington bore ! testimony that the President, in pursuance j of policy, had sent him a formal repri- \ mand. (Laughter.) Well, that repri- j mand, in the light of this hour, was a I decoration of honour. He rejoiced that in this co-operation with the British Navy the navy of the United States was represented by a courageous, a wise, and a brave man, who understood the verv heart of the struggle and who entered into it with sympathy and the heartiest feeling for his British comrades. In all those movements they had come very close together, and friendships had been born in the strife. Everlasting Bonds.

There was no love that was without alloy unless men and women had suffered together in mutual sacrifices, and in war sacrifices they had cemented a bond that would last through all generations. The American people had passed out of insular life. Their responsibility for the peace of the world they could 'not evade if they would, and they would not if they could. He could not say what mobile police force would be required, but it would bo a calamity worse than a I crime if the British people and the American people ever entered into a competition in navy building. (Cheere.) It was not for the good of the world that any nation should possess so large a navy that it could under any condition dominate the world. "We recognise in America," said Mr. Daniels, " the conditions surrounding your Empire, and we know that they call for a powerful navv, and you will never see the day when we shall have any suspicion of your objects. We know the British Navy has never fought for greed. We know it has fought against tyranny and wrong. You know j the spirit of Americathat while we have ! a large coastline and a large and growing trade, we need a strong navy. There is no feeling in either country' that either should have a navy to dominate the world, but thai, the navies, whether large or small, shall act not in competition* but in co-operation."