Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.

n Jews Of a projected visit by
IN Ramsay Macdonald, new Labor
NJ prime minister, to America has
l. served to set in motion again
discussion Of the naval issue
between the United States and Great
Britain. Beyond any question, the re-
turn of Macdonald to Downing Street
be treated on the British side in an
entirely different spirit from that dis
closed by the Baldwin cabinet. Nor
is 1t to be questioned that British dis
gust with the blunders Of the Tory gov
eminent contributed to their complete
disaster in the election of May 80.
Macdonald Is credited with the be-
lief that the Transformation Of Anglo
American relations Is one Of the chief
labors before him. Although nominally
Arthur Henderson, as foreign secretary
the Uncle Arthur" of Labor circles
must conduct any negotiations, in
this as In all other matters Of foreign
policy, Macdonald Is bound to be the
dominating influence. And he Is ut
once pacifist, as internationalist and
one of the rare British public men
who know their United States well
Certain difficulties, however, do mani
testify lie in the way Of any real adj
justment. Not the least arises from
the fact that Macdonald has publicly
and frequently indicated that he be-
lieves that the question of physical
equality between the fleets Is relatively
minor and must be subordinated to the
far greater question Of the freedom of
the seas. But in the present state Of
American public opinion and particu-
larry in view Of the situation in Con-
gress there Is manifest danger that
such q program might lead not to
agreement but to still further chaos.
Several Interpretations.
Freedom of the seas, like all similar
phrases, can be interpreted in any num-
Der of ways. What Mr.. Macdonald
has in mind is an effort to relate the
traditional view of the United States to
| the existing system Of Europe as ex-
pressed in the League of Nations. And
between these two points he desires
to employ the Kellogg pact as bridge
Like all other Britons. Macdonald
starts with the assumption that the
only possible war for Britain In the
future is war either directly forced
by deliberate aggression or brought
about by British participation in some
action authorized by the League OF
Nations against nation which, in vio-
lation alike Of the League covenant and
the Kellogg pact, has resorted to vio-
lence.
On this assumption Macdonald seeks
to bring the United States TO agree that
| 1t will not seek. to invoke its rights as
neutral to trade with any country
that shall have been guilty Of an overt
violation Of the peace Of the world. He
thus leaves 1t open for us to insist upon
and maintain our rights In, all cases
! save in the event that any nation shall
violate and defy the solemn agreements
entered upon BY all civilized countries
Action Must Be Concerted.
But the obvious dificulty in obtain.
/ ing American consent to any such pro-
| posal lies In, the question of who shall
decide as to the fact Of aggression. For
all other great powers save Russia the
matter is simple, because they are all
members of the League of Nations.
| If and when the Council decides that
nation has been guilty Of wanton dis
| turbance of peace, automatically these
member nations are bound, not merely
| not to insist upon their own rights of
intercourse with such nation, but to
concert together to determine the sane
| tons or constraint to be exerted
against it.
Since the United States is not men,
Der Of the League 1t would find itself in
the position of having the decision
made for it by body In whose DELHI
GRAFTON 1t had not taken part. II it
agreed in advance to accept such de-
cision 1t would be henceferth not a
member OF the League and partner in
its enterprises, but actually bound,
willy-nilly, to abandon its rights when
the League had spoken 50 .--