New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-24
NOrthcliffe
Says Britain
Is Disarn1iine
9
CONTINUED from page ona)

| like to know who doesn't. In England
we realize that the compulsory dis
armament imposed on Germany has
given her great economic advantage
we nave found it necessary to provide
ourselves with that advantage AS
result disarmament is progressing on
a big scale. Already the personnel of
our navy and army has dropped far be-
low what it was in 1914. The number
OF men in our navy was $4,000 in
January, 1914; it is now 10000, or
drop of $4,000. Our army has been re-
dIced about one-haf. Another method
we have adopted is to let some of our
ships go to rot. Likewise much of our
aircraft has been thrown into the Junk
heap
Need of Water Communication
Our position was admirably ex-
pressed by Lord Grey in q speech he
made a few months ago. He declared
that as to the Atlantic we need have
no apprehension because of our friend
ship with the United States. The At
lantIc may be regarded much in the
same light as the Canadian United
States border. 1t needs no defensive
operations.
But with South Africa, Australia,
India and other of our colonies it is
nece ssary for US to keep open direct
communication. Our water routes with
our colonies are as essential to us as
the railroads to the United States. But
with these essentials in mind we are
rapidly cutting our army and navy
down to bedrock"
government for Ireland, with a
TORN OF autonomy in the south differing
from that in the north, but with a do
nj nion parliament to give both sections
unity, will ultimately be worked out,
Viscount Northcliffe said.
Asked ii he thought the Irish ques-
ton will be settled without further
bloodshed, he said the British govern
ment is very hopeful.
But" he added, "a problem that has
been brewing for 700 years cannot be
settled in seven days.
King Aids Irish Farley
"The governments invitation to De
Valera to go to London for a conference
was no surprise to u.s." he continued.
at was well known that the step had
been considered as long ago as last
November. The great fear was over
calling truce. 1t was believed that
De Valera would be unable to maintain
truce. When the government was
assured that it could be accomplished
the conference was decided upon.
of course you in America know that
N Protestant Ireland great opposition
to separation is always being voiced.
That is one of the great problems, The
idea has been evolved that a dominion
form Of government will be decided
upon, but that the Protestant section
will have government suitable to
their needs and the Catholics will have
government satisfactory to them, but
that both will be united in dominion
parliament. / think the visit of the
King to Ireland had avn olesome effect
in bringing about the possibility of a
settlement"
Development. in aviation, viscount
Northcliffe said, is one of the things
to which he is looking forward with
keen interest. AS one who had stimu-
lated aviation in England by Offering
substantial prizes for flights at time
when air travel was regarded as
dream, he said he believed the i'm
mediate future has immense advances
to make.
"The first thing I look for is the
opening up of nonstop flight air
route between England and Australia"
he said. "The distance of 10000 miles
ought to be done in ten days at least.
The lighter-than-air machine may
prove to be more practicable than the
aeroplane, because it will not be neces-
sary to alight fer gasoline. We are
permitting FIVE of our biggest airships
to go to rot as part of our disarmament
plan. | have been urging that they
ought to be used for the Australian
service"
Paper Not for Sale
Some one asked Viscount NorthcIiffs
concerning a report that he was to sell
The Times
my answer to that report is that it
originated in Germany" he said
yiscount Northcliffe said he expected
to depart from Vancouver for Japan
on August 6.
viscount Northcliffe announced on
his arrival that Walter Frederick Bull
lock, for thirteen years the New York
correspondent of the Northcliffe news
papers, had been elected a director in
the Associated Newspapers, Ltd. Mr..
Bullock was formerly the Daily Mail
correspondent in Berlin. He has now
full charge Of the Times and the
Daily Mails American correspondence.