The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1927. THE OUTLAWRY OF WAR

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19992, 8 November 1927, Page 6

The Wanganui Chronicle TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 1927. THE OUTLAWRY OF WAR

One should not. look a gift horse in the mouth, says an old. proverb. And, by the same token, one dislikes questioning the motives behind any movement towards world peace. Ihe vital importance of avoiding war by any means short of a sacrifice of national self-respect is such that one is disposed sometimes to countenance means to that, end which he has little faith in. At the same time, there are occasions when examination is advisable, and President Coolidge’s announcement of negotiations with France to outlaw war between that country and the United States deserves a little notice, especially when read in conjunction with another cable informing us of substantial proposed additions to the United States Navy. The first question which suggests itself is why should such negotiations be confined to France only? What have Britain, Japan, Germany, and Italy done that they should be ignored? A little past history may suggest an answer. Some few months ago, M. Briand made a similar proposal to America on behalf of France, but it fell flat. Peace enthusiasts welcomed it warmly, but officialdom was eool. The suggestion was made that it was a piece of camouflage and only intended to secure a defensive alliance for France, so that in the event of war with another Power. France could be sure that America would not be ranged against her and might even support her. Suddenly, America official opinion changes and no less than the President himself announces a renewal of negotiations. Why? If America desire to outlaw war with France, why not a similar outlawry of war with Britain and other Powers? Another cable of the same date tells us that the United States proposes a five-year naval building programme, providing no less than thirty 10,000-ton cruisers, as well as five aeroplane carriers, involving an expenditure of £80,000,000 sterling. These are rather stupendous figures. What is the reason, if the United States be so anxious to outlaw war?

A sentence at the end of the message is suggestive. It. is stated that “the cruiser strength of Britain and Japan is growing.” Does the United States hope to meet this growth by outlawing war with France, so as to ensure that the Latter cannot give any support to Britain or Japan? The excuse is put forward that the States are keeping within the Washington Treaty, but it is omitted to be mentioned that Britain and Japan are within the Washington Treaty too. It. is passing strange that the United States, after looking eoldly at the French proposal, and seeing in it only French self-interest, should so suddenly come to see its advantage simultaneously with the decision to add so largely to the American Navy. Has the United States come to see that self-interest can cut both ways ?

The situation seems to smack more of a manoeuvre for advantage than an honest endeavour to advance the cause of world peace. Had President Coolidge invited the other Powers to join in the negotiations for the outlawry of war, there would be nothing to be said. As it is, with a sudden change in American attitude, with other Powers shut out of negotiations, with a large addition to American naval strength proposed, and with an insinuation that Britain and Japan are not playing the game, there is something rather curious about the position. It looks unpleasantly like an effort to isolate Britain and Japan to the United States’ decided advantage.