THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1928. CANADA LOOKS AT NAVIES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20071, 8 October 1928, Page 8

THE New Zealand Herald AND DAILY SOUTHERN CROSS MONDAY, OCTOBER 8, 1928. CANADA LOOKS AT NAVIES.

Speaking for his Government, the leader of the Canadian Senate has very pointedly commented on the international outlook for disarmament and peace. As a Canadian who has been prominent in the councils of the League of Nations, Mr. Dandurand is in a position to handle the question with a considerable measure of certitude and authority. He knows Geneva's point of view at first hand. He is well acquainted with developments in the United States. Tie has full sympathy with British policy. These things together accredit his opinions in an impressive way. Of particular importance is his forecast of the draft convention to be submitted by the League. IJe is not free, of course, to announce its details. These must wait for the completed findings of the preparatory commission on disarmament. It is significant, however, that he is able to say that it goes further than the Kellogg pact. As matters stand at present, the pact is little more than a general pledge of peaceful intent: something of value, to be sure, but as yet without the assurance of peace that onh' concerted national action in disarmament and a detailed plan of conciliation and arbitration can give. In spite of the pact, these things are lacking. The League has done much and is bent on doing more; but, with the United States openly scornful of its work and not scrupling to hamper it, the outlook is by no means as bright as lovers of peace frankly wish. On one knot in the present tangle Mr. Dandurand has put his linger unerringly. The preparatory commission cannot regard its work as complete until all armaments—naval, land and air—are brought fully into a comprehensive formula, and in the naval section progress has been hindered, somewhat exasperatingly, by American action, if so positive a term can be given to a policy strangely made up of sudden entries into the domain of discussion and as sudden refusals to co-operate m means to make discussion of practical service.

As one of the world's greatest naval Powers, the United Stales cannot be ignored in any attempt to find the needed comprehensive scheme. Not all the idealistic pacts in the world can take the nations a step nearer assured peace unless this Power either abandons all programmes of ambitious naval construction or consents to become a party to an effective universal understanding. At present, the United States is prepared to do neither. The Kellogg pact is in danger of being made a dead letter by the very nation credited with inducing its signature. Last year, at Geneva, American opinion killed tho idea, put forward by the British delegation, of a reduction in the size of future battleships—because, it was argued by the Americans, Britain had just completed two new battleships far superior to tho latest in the United States fleet, and equality could only be attained by the United States building ships of equal displacement when the time came. The argument took no account of other factors which negatived the addition of these two completed battleships as an actual increase to the British fleet, left still within the terms of the 55 —3 ratio accepted at the Washington conference. American construction and modernisation had been pursued, and are still being pursued, up to the full limits of that agreement; and in the elevation of the turret guns of battleships the United States programme has exceeded what British opinion, officially expressed, holds to be the limit imposed at Washington. Moreover, the United States claim to require huge "overseas" submarines, because of the distant position of the Philippines and the lack of adequate naval bases, has been advanced in justification of a vigorous submarinebuilding activity. In spite of the Kellogg pact and sundry suggestions of international disarmament, the United States naval programme goes merrily on. Abandonment of ambitious naval construction seems remote from American thought. Nor does there appear to exist a sincere official wish to become a party to any effective universal understanding. Hence Canada's suggestion, voiced by Mr. Dandurand, that the United Stales and Britain should agree to join their fleets "with the sole desire of assuring the peace of the world." Alluring uu this coiui'.el a-, it cannot be received without disappointment, and niii-igivin!/, 1 or one thing, it is sadly indicative of the little faith put by the ncarc«t and moat intimate, neighbour of the United States in the virtue of the Kellogg pact. .Mr. Dandurand refers to the fleets of these "two great Kriglishspeaking peoples" as being the product of naval competition between them. His words, as he knows, | have particular reference to the United States, not to Britain. The "big-navy" policy is just now an integral part of the political platforms of Republicans and Democrats alike. Disarmament cannot get either an official or a popular hearing. The Canadian counsel tacitly assumes that tho American naval policy will brook no pica for abatement, * although such a idea can bo reinforced by citation of retarded building by Britain. No change in American policy ' can be expected until tho presidential election is .over and the incoming executive is heard in Congress through the new president's speech, if indeed any change is lo be expected then.

There is a serious risk that the ardent pursuit of this policy will undermine all the good that the Kellogg pact may have accomplished. Building activity in the United States will provide excuse for accelerated building elsewhere. It is from the other quarter named by Mr. Dandurand that better things may come —the draft convention of the League. If the preparatory commission on disarmament, undeterred by the fuss made on the other side of the Atlantic over the Franco-British agreement and aided by the maintenance of thoroughly friendly relations between France and Britain, should proceed with the work for which it has shown quiet enthusiasm, and evolve a comprehensive formula inclusive of American naval forces, a fresh approach to the practical problem will be possible. The resulting draft convention should give the United States a new opportunity of cooperating in a peace project of more than verbal value.