RIVAL NAVIES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18198, 19 March 1921, Page 9

RIVAL NAVIES

BRITAIN, AMERICA, AND JAPAN. LIVELY DEBATE IN THE COMMONS. Frees Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, March 17. In the House of Commons, in committee, there was a lively debate on the NavyEstimates regarding the building of capital ships, and the United States’s apparent determination to increase its navy. Sir Edward Carson urged the House not to let the cry of economy interfere with its judgment as to what the navy ought to be. It would be the greatest catastrophe that ever happened if Britain decided to content herself with being the second naval Power. " Mr Asquith said he had not the faintest apprehension that the American navy was directed, or ever could be directed, against Britain. Parliament was being asked to spend on the Navy, Army, and Air Force £200,000,000 a year. That was a rather 1 surge figure There had never been so favourable ah 'opportunity to bring about a reduction in naval armaments, limiting them to the bare necessities of national security. Mr J. 8.. Clynes said that Britain ought to fortify itself against attack by entering into an arrangement with the United States for 'a reduction in naval armaments. Commander Bellairs viewed the increase in the Japanese navy as a grave-danger. He .said that,- if necessary, the United States and! Groat Britain should ration the sujgjly of steel to Japan.'—A. and N.Z. AMERICAN FLEET’S PACIFIC TOUR; AUSTRALASIA MAY BE INCLUDED. ’ WASHINGTON, Match 17. (Received March 18, at 9.15 p.m.) The Australian Press Association leams that Mr Denby (Secretary of the Navy) has not yet definitely decided to send the ■ American fleet on a tour to Australasia. Mr Daniels (ex-Secretary) last autumn stated that he contemplated such a tour, but the defeat of the Democrats immediately put such plana in abeyance. Mr Denby, who himself plans to* make a three weeks’ tour of inspection with the fleet in the Pacific, is somewhat concerned over the cost of the trip to Australasia. It is understood that if the expenses are not very large he may approve of Mr Daniels’s plans with some modifications.—A.* and N.Z. Cable.