Evening star., 1924-11-30
britain DEFENDED
IN NAVAL PACT ROW
Sir Esme Howard Says No
Signatory Power Has Filed
Complaint to Date.

Statements that the British govern
ment is not carrying out its obliga-
tions under the Washington treaty for
the limitation Of naval armament OF
1921 were denied by Sir Esme How
ard, British Ambassador to the United
States, at reception given in his
honor by the Southern Society last
night at the Willard Hotel.
Il do not myself attach any import
ance to these statements and any crit
icisms that may have been based on
them do not in any way upset my
equanimity," said the ambassador. Il
have a philosophy Of my own about
such matters, which has long stood
stead. So long as our conscience is
clear, so long as we know that We have
done nothing to besmirch our honor.
our honor Is safe.
No Need to Move Inland.
Nothing any one else can say or DO
can touch 1t and therefore nothing
that others can say or do need trcIble
us greatly. provided we really have
a clear conscience. This being the
case AS regards the matter. feel that
the British government need not mind
greatly what Is said.
But in order that You gentlemen
who live near the seashore may not
think 1t necessary for the safety of
your families to purchase homes far
inland, because perhdious Albion Is
secretly breaking her engagements and
arming contrary to treaty obligations.
/ will just say this in order to calm
any fears you may entertain on the
subject.
Has Had No Protests.
THE Washington treaty was signed
by the United States Of America,
France, Italy, Japan and Great Bril-
tain. Up to date the British govern
ment has not received from any of
the other signatories OF the treaty
any protest or observation whatever
tending to show that they have the
slightest notion that Great Britain
Is not carrying out her side accord
ing TO the letter and the spirit, /
presume that all these governments
can not have sunk into a condition
of coma, nor that they are all COM
pletely Indifferent to the interests
of the countries they govern. SO that
it was left to private citizen to
make these alarming disclosures.
For all~details with regard to the
position, as regards relative numbers
of the fleets. ! would venture merely
to refer any one interested In tha mat
ter to Senator Hales admirably lucid
statement, with as many statistical
tables as are good for the digestion,
which Is contained In the Congress
sional Record. There you will find the
whole position stated with utmost
clearness. l do not need to go to any
British source for a fair statement of
the position-I am we'll content to
leave the matter in the capable hands
of Senator Hale"
Likes RepOse OF south.
Ambassador Howard opened his ad-
dress facetiously by pointing out that
an Englishnan's knowledge of Amer
tea Is "collosaL" why, you can still
ind some people in England" he said.
who do not know what the Gov
ernor Of North Carolina said to the
Governor of South Carolina"
The ambassador also paid a glowing
tribute to the qualities Of the South
as typified by Washington and Mount
Vernon, and voiced the hope that It
will not altogether lose these quail
ties in these strenuous days" Among
the South's qualities he ranked high
love of the home and of the very
soil. and love OF a duo measure of
privacy and leisure. coupled with a
glorious and quixotic disdain for
riches"
THE South is for U.s.. added Am
pdSSauor howard. 'full OF rich flavor
of romance which still hangs about
the old Southern homes. There is,
in our Imagination at any rate, about
the South. sort of repose and calm
which appeals to US English. I have
not. for instance, seen one of the
great houses in the North that I
would exchange for Mount Vernon,
if 1t were mine. Mount Vernon
rather remote. rather aloof. dignif1ed
yet without any undue display of
riches, ready indeed to extend
hospitality to friends, but shrinking
from the very idea Of making a
splash, is to me the ideal of the
Southern home. and. may say, the
IDEAL Of any home in any country"
The Ambassador was introduced by
Wade H. Cooper, president of the So
ciety. More than 500 persons attend
ed the reception, which was followed
by dancing.