The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-09
The Road to British American Peace

GGOd(l 10 OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES GdCG.
When from his throne King George scooped the
world on the news that new arbitration treaty is
under way between his country and ours his revela
ton was Of more than ordinary Importance, and for
q reason. ..
One needs to be blind indeed not to see that
measured by the standards in vogue up to the pres
ent time greater strain has been placed upon
the peace-time relations between two great powers
than that to which those between Britain and
America are subjected. & r.
without either having sought it, the two great.
Engst-speakng nations today face situation loaded
with dynamite. Never more friendly terms than
at present, fate destiny or what YOU will, has
thrust them into an arena where only fighting has
been known before. And if they are to escape with
out it must be through the door of common
sense which previous occupants of the ring ever
have seemed able to find.
Time and again, Britain has been where she finds
herself today. And every time she has fought her
way out, across her conquered rival Now without
our willing it, and whether we like it or not, comes
turn to face her in the same, boodsoaked arena
and only new diplomacy, and new craftsmanship
can rescue her and us without repetition of the
old CORY story.
This is not the outcry of alarmist Rather it
is sincere attempt to face a disagreeable truth
which the people of Britain and the people of the
United States must recognize, if history is not to go
on repeating itself.
For more than 200 years Britain has fought and
beaten every nation that rose TO challenge her
premacy, either sea power or trading power.
Now. thanks to circumstances rather than to any
predetermined plan of our own we find ourselves do
ing both. We are rivaling her in both directions at
once.
Like Britain, our prosperity in large measure
depends upon ability to sell surplus products
abroad Like Britain, position is such that our
national security demands that upon the high seas
there shall be no fleet superior to ours.
We are willing even eager to limit fleet to
the very minimum agreeable to the next power but
we can not afford to accept nferiority because of
the risks involved.
Thus at this moment we are appropriatng hun
dreds of millions of dollars for new ships to
bring our Navy up to parity with Britain. In Wash
ington this week, told, President Coolidge in
dorsed plan to strengthen merchant marine,
not only as trade measure, but as national de-
Tense measure.
Ships in preparation which will the
Atlantic in four days, beating the fastest time of
the fastest British flag ships by whole day. Not only
that but built with fiat decks from which airplanes
can take off and on which they may land In time of
they would be, to all ntents and purposes first
class aircraft carriers.
1QeSe Things are uOG alLleQ al BrlIdlIl 1Hey are
only the logical Developments the indispensable needs
of this stupendous. fast-growng country of
They aimed at no We look upon all nations
as friends.
But the fact remains that throughout all history
this identical situation has ended only in the same
identical way. The question before Britons and
Americans alike now is is history going to repeat?
Which is why the King George published
from the throne this week has more than the usual
Importance. This newspaper believes the announce
ment gives an inkling of the answer to the vital
question confronting the people of his country and
ours
Fortunately the world has learned lot in the last
twenty years. We have learned that nobody wins
war; Both sides lose. Also, fortunately, Britain and
America are both democraces. In both the word
of the people is the law of the land provided they
make good Of the prerogative which is in their
hands and vote real statesmen into Office.
Properly guided, the two nations never will go to
war.