The Washington herald., 1921-10-16

limit ornaments through the eyes
OF the British as an extremely pre-
carious undertaking. II for any rea-
son she should be deprived of the
mastery of the seas. that is, II any
power, or group of powers, could
make It impossible for her freely to
operate ships to and from her pos
sessions, the people would starve
and her manufactures and indus
tries collapse. And while the British
people, in common with those
throughout the world, anxiously
hope for relief from the taxation
necessary to maintain sea commu-
nicatfon, they would rather struggle
along as best they may under the
load than to have the load removed
and cease to exist.
IT HE World War seyed only to
emphasize the perilous position
of Great Britain, added greater
territory to her dominions and made
1t increasingly necessary to remain
supreme on the seas. England had
many dark hours during the war.
Ship after ship loaded with provi-
sions was sent to the bottom, she
had trouble in transporting her
troops across the narrow English
channel to France and in transport
ing them from her far-nung do,
minions to the theater of war. The
German submarine was DESTROYING
tonnage faster than il could be
built. More than once the civilian
population felt the pangs of hunger,
due in every instance to failure to
keep the arteries of sea communi-
cation open.
England decided then, and MOTH
ing has occurred to change her
opinion since, that what HAPPENED
must not happen again. There is
nothing altruistic about the Brit
ish and disarmament. His is the cold
logic of living. If it is possible for
the nations of the world to guar
antee for him the same security
that is now guaranteed by the navy
and merchant feet, he will. of
course, welcome the relief from
taxation that will follow the cur
tailment of ornaments. But the
guarantee will have to be a real
one and leave no question of doubt
n REAT BRITAIN. unlike the
United States. has a very
not subject to change as one or
another political party gains con-
troll. Her wars have largely been
wars of conquest. She early de-
cided to extend her dominions, to
be the most powerful nation in the
world. Her subjects planted the
British flag on every continent in
the world, and the government sent
fleet or garrison of troops to take
control. determined that wherever
the British took possession control
should not pass from her hands
This has required an immense navy
and transport system, one so large
that no nation could hope to
dispute with her what she laid
With her great merchant fleet and
manufactures at home she gained
control of the worlds trade. She
helped to crush her nearest COM
petitor, Germany, and is watching
with anxiety the expansion of the
United States and Japan. No one
realizes any better than does Great
Britain that II her dominance
masses to another power collapse is
inevitable.
Backed by DOmIniOns.
In this attitude Great Britain is
loyalty supported by her domin-
ions, Canada, South Africa, Aus
tralia and New Zealand. Prior to the
world war the dominions had little
voice in formulating the govern
ment policy. When war was de-
clared the dominions automatically
went to war. But as a reward
for their loyalty in the conflict ana
partly due no, doubt to incessant
demands on the part Of the donnin-
ions, they have been given a new
status. The dominion representa-
tives are called into consultation by
the British premier and policies are
formulated with their approval.
The dominions are a unit therefore
in support of the traditional policy
for dominance of the seas, II any
thing; more closely bound to the
mother country than ever before.
But Great Britain's sea power.
while supreme today. is in danger
Of being eclipsed unless somethine
is done to halt the race of COM
petitive building, and Great RritaIn