NOTES AND COMMENTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18225, 19 October 1922, Page 6

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

NAVAL CONTRIBUTIONS

The enthusiasm of New Zealand for the cause of Imperial naval defence has survived the after-war slump which has so markedly affected all the other parts of the Empire, says the journal of the Navy League. With a daring that we cannot but admire the New Zealand Navy League has advocated an increased contribution toward the cost of naval defence and has suggested that New Zealand should pay at the same rate per head of population as in Great Britain. This is, roughly, £1 6s 9d a year, and on this basis New Zealand would pay nearly £1,333,300 a year as a naval contribution. There can be no question that it wo are to maintain an Imperial Navy by means of monetary contributions from the overseas branches of the family, this per capita method is theoretically the fairest. If we assume a general contribution of £1 per head of population by each of the self-governing Dominions and by the Mother Country we should have an annual sum of £67,000,000; ample to maintain a commerce-protection fleet of auflicient size for the main ocean route* of Empire trade, as well as a Grand Fleet of the sire permitted by the Washington Treaty. There is, however, the journal adds, small likelihood of such a contribution being made within the next decade. Mr. Massey, the Now Zealand Premier, who received a deputation from »he New Zealand Navy League recently, said .quite frankly that " th&y could not do impossibilities in time of financial difficulty." At the same time lie informed the House of Representatives that in the opinion of his Government "wo havereached a stage when members will admit we must do something more to assist to maintain the Imperial Navy." Mr. Massey'a present proposal is a contribution of £500,000 next year.

MR. LLOYD GEORGE'S BOOK. The financial arrangements for the publication of Mr. Lloyd George's war book have been made by the proprietors of the Sunday Times. Through that journal ah announcement has been made that Mr. Lloyd George has elected to devote the entire profits from the book to war charities. Explaining the reasons imr polling the Prime Minister to write a book on the war, the Sunday Times says :—"There have- been a large number of articles, pamphlets, and books published from time to time, and especially recently, containing criticisms of his direction of the war, some of them written for obviously partisan reasons and promulgated by partisan organisations hostile to his Government. These publications contain distortions of fact calculated to mislead the public. Tho Prime Minister feels impelled, therefore, to publish at the earliest possible moment his account of the great struggle. He has aliready made considerable progress .with the writing of his story." Referring to Mr. Lloyd George's decision that no would not take any personal advantage from the publication of the book,, the Sunday Times says that in the coqrse of writing the book the Prime Minister has been so distressed by the poignancy of the story he has had to tell, by the terrible sacrifice of the nation's life blood that was involved in the struggle, that the idea of any personal gain in the matter became impossible to him. He would despise himself, he felt, if he al'owed himself to think of the book in such terms. The story of the nation's sacrifice shall only be told for the nation's gain.

AMERICA'S MASTER KEY. A plain statement of America's responsibility in /international affairs was made by Mr.. J. M. Cox, Governor of Ohio, in an address before the American Society in London, which entertain**! him on his return from a tour through Central Europe. Declaring that America's policy of isplation had contributed in a considerable degree to the confusion in Europe, Mr. Cox said economists all knew that they would not have permanent, just, or stable restoration in Europe until America made herself part of t;he general equation. The deadlock could only be solved by America applying the master key. He suggested that as a first step America might act as arbitrator in the reparations question, giving an unprejudiced decision that would be acceptable to France and Germany and all the interested nations. In that connection they must concede to France the recognition of a thing or two that they did not hear talked about now. In America there was an expressed impatience at what seemed to be a French tendency toward militarism. He recalled that at the peace table France asked that she might occupy the east bank of the Rhine as a measure of protection. She accepted the counter-proposal that the United States would join in a guarantee against invasion. " Fellow Americans," continued tut. .' L Allienca *>*» not kept the faith; she has not made good on that proposition. Until she does, or associates herself in some manner agreeable to the public opinion of the United States, with the only going concern on earth, organised for the purpose of preserving peace, it is extremely bad grace on the part of America to discuss with France the question of disarmament." I n the last few years numberless democracies had been created. Old Governments had been removed or reformed. The inalienable rights of man were a realisation rather than a hope in quarters where tyrants ruled and patnpts died. America helped in the birth of democracies and was responsible for their existence. She could not, in self-respect, desert them. She was not asked to give of her resources. There was exacted only the sympathetic interest of co-operation and guidance. In short, the people of America needed but to stretch out the strong supporting arm of their great Republic until the children in the world s family of nations could stand alone. lam willing," he said in conclusion, "that history shall write of us that we unselfishly thought of others, as others thought of us when we needed help. If that is to be an ignoble chapter, then all the rules of human conduct must be changed."- ,