Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-27
NAVAL PLANS HELD
BLOW TO BLOCKADE
League Official Says U. S.
Stand BaIks Weapon
OF Discipline.
By FRANK II. SIMONDS.


Special Dispatch 10 The star.
PARIS, January 27.-"The Anglo
American naval disagreement postpones
for a year. If IL does not actually par
alyze all the work which the League OF
Nations has been doing with the ioea
Of organizing peace in Europe through
disarmament"
III these words. one of the high Of
/ ficials of the League summed up to me
the consequences of the failure OF the
Coolidge naval conference. His eN-
plantations Of these consequences are al
least deserving OF notice. Thus, he con-
tinued:
AT the bottom of the various systems
70 preserve peace which we have been
evolving at Geneva, there has been the
conception OF the Use of some form OF
restraint and coercion against nation
which might be guilty of an unprovoKeo
attack upon neighbor.
Economic Pressure Seen.
THE most effective means of eXercis-
ine pressure might be economic rather
than military. Thus IL has been con-
ceived that the League nations might
mite il, a blockade Of the offending
country.
The success Of any such blockade,
however. would obviously depend upon
the attitude Of the United States 1t
would be a question not of the participa-
fion Of the United States in the block
ade. but merely Of American agreement
10 respect it. What has been hoped
has been that the United States would
agree not TO interfere with any blockade
duly imposed by the League following
aggression.
AS 10 the blockade. there has been
the natural assumption that Great
Britain. as the supreme naval power.
would furnish the larger amount OF the
necessary strength. But IN all dis
cuSsions. there has been holding back
on the British part, because of the pos
sibilitv that any such blockade might
come into collision with American pol
icy.
Now the determination of the United
States 10 build up its feet to parity
which the British at Geneva claimed
would amount to taking actual suprem-
scy in the battle line must certainly
strengthen British reluctance. To pre-
serve peace on the continent OF Europe.
Great Britain is not going TO run the
risk Of 8 collision with the American
feet. II the United States will nc:
agree TO recognize the League blockade,
then the blockade as an instrument TO
maintain peace in Europe loses its
value.
Progress Is Doubted.
Frankly. in the present hour. I see
no hope Of any further progress at
Geneva in the direction Of the linita-
ton OF ornaments. The continental
conception of disarmament is that it
shall be preceded by the creation OF a
state OF security based upon common
agreement Of all countries TO act against
any country which resorts to war. The
search for security is extended by the
disappearance Of the blockade.
'-Anglo-American naval disagreement
and e-en possible naval competition
cannot now have much effect in stimu-
lating new naval ornaments among
the continental naval powers. because
these lack the money 20 construct great
cruisers But the arguments which the
British and Americans presented at
Geneva in favor of their own naval
programs quite obviously find easy APP
plication 10 military conditions affect
ing countries whose security depends
upon their armies and their alliances.
Naturally. no one in Geneva has any
idea OF what will be the next develop
raents in the Anglo-American situa-
ton Europe must wait now TO see first
whether the American Congress adopts
the naval program which has been pro-
posed, what the public opinion in the
United States will be. and. finally.
whether the naval affair viii be af-
fected py the outcome Of the next IA
tional election in the United States.
But that means pause OF az least
q year. and, as consequence. although
new discussions Of the subject Of dis
armament are due 70 start even as early
as February. in League commissions,
you can say with pretty fair exactitude
that disarmament and the organization
o! peace on the continent now await the
liquidation OF the Anglo-American naval
dispute Naturally. for the continent,
TOO, Il is a bitter disappointment. for
the need and the desire 70 do something
are both very great