AMERICA AND PEACE

Otago Witness, Issue 3897, 20 November 1928, Page 52

AMERICA AND PEACE

THE PRESIDENT’S SPEECH.

LONDON CIRCLES IMPRESSED. . LONDON, November 12. Official circles in -London favourably regard President Coolidge’s speech as making it plain that America recognises . the essential difference between American and European approach to current European problems. It also gives hope for America’s co-operation m the solution of such problems.

AMERICAN NAVAL PROGRAMME. WASHINGTON, November 12. J-he General Navy Board to-day issued a statement of policy, which was approved by Mr Wilbur, calling for an American navy second to none, and “ maintained in sufficient strength to support the United States policies of commerce and guard our continental and overseas possessions.” The statement asks for the construction of cruisers exclusively of the 10,000-ton typ e and armed with eight-inch guns, and the application of the 5-5-3 capital ship ratio of the Washington Treaty to auxiliary ships. The statement takes on greater emphasis from the fact that it was published the day following President Coolidge’s speech m which he favoured more 10,000-ton cruisers, and it is expected to have an important influence on Congress when the 274,000,000-dollar Bill for building 15 10,000-ton cruisers and one airplane 5 carrier, now pending in the Senate, is taken up when that body meets next month The statement asserts that the fleet should be well balanced and should be kept at top efficiency through an active programme of replacement, and it is definitely against the building of small cruisers. Two general statements in the Navy Board policy are particularly interesting : ‘ To ensure the strength of the navy for exercising ocean-wide control of the seas, with particular reference to the protection of American interests on overseas and coastwise commerce,” and to cultivate friendly and sympathetic relations with the whole world by foreign cruises to support in every possible way American interests, especially the expansion and development of American foreign commerce and merchant marine.”

Mr Coolidge’s speech has met with a mixed reception throughout the United Stats. Partisan newspapers strongly commend its pointoof view, but others, while not quarrelling with his subject matter, declare that his manner is likely to give offence. Some newspapers declare that it will give impetus to the first proposed 1,000,000,000-dollar programme. Public men are divided in the expressions of their opinions, according to their previously expressed points of view. For instance, Mr Nicholas Murray Butler declared that “ navy expansion would be a travesty,” but now he says that “ the new peace pact renders it unnecessary, unless all men are liars.”

The Washington correspondent of the New York World states that it is reported on good authority that Mr Hoover, in his first message to Congress, will advocate President Coolidge’s large naval programmer He, however, is expected to call a new conference for the limitation of armaments on land and sea shortly after his inauguration, unless the initiative is taken by some European Government. President Coolidge and Mr Hoover are walking hand-in-hand in establishing the United States foreign policy, which is, ‘‘Walk gently, but carry a big stick,” and are searching for ways of peace by being prepared for war.

FRENCH PRESS COMMENT. PARIS, November 13.

There is considerable press comment on the speeches of President Coolidge and Mr Kellogg. ’ Le Temps, after a tribute to the American war effort, which, it says, France has never belittled, adds: “It creates a painful impression when President Coolidge asserts that the losses of the other nations must be discounted because they have claimed reparations and increased their territory. France will never admit that the sacrifices can be countered solely in terms of money. Blood and gold cannot be weighed against one another.” Le Temps concluded: “It would be a mistake to expect America to initiate anything which goes beyond her own interests.”