Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-27
SHIP BILL OUTCOME
WORRYING EUROPE
Program Considered Abroad
as Revolution of Interna-
tionaI Status.
BY PAUL SCOTT MOWRER.

BY Radio to The Star. and Chicago Daily
News. Copyright 1929.
PARIS, January 26.-The debates In
the United States Senate on the pro-
posal to build IS big new cruisers and
an airplane carrier to protect the COM
merce of the United States-that is to
say, in plain words, to re-establish our
parity with or even superiority to the
British Navy-dominates for the mo-
ment the entire international political
situation.
People of every nation feel that
something is happening at Washington
which is destined to affect the future
of the whole world Europe remem-
bers its history. 1t remembers that
Britain, by destroying every powerful
rival that arose, first Spain, then Hol-
land, then France, then Germany, has
ruled the waves" nearly four CEN
turtles.
The United States takes its idea of
naval parity with Britain as matter
of course, but Europe considers 1t
nothing more or less than revolution of
the international status and is some
what worried about the possible out
come.
The continental press may laugh at
the ginger ale champaign" with which
the new United States cruiser Salt Lake
TitU nhrfctnvaod Loot TII1rcdoU h1it
it is far from laughing at the naval
program of the United States.
Looked Upon as Sea Rivals.
Great Britain and the United States
are looked upon as maritime rivals en-
gagged in vigorous peaceful struggle
Great Britain to retain her position and
the United States to attain world SUI
premacy.
In general the European public
ignores the viewpoint of the United
States. The Americans are not popu-
lar. The rise of the United States to
power has been so rapid as to inspire
no little fear and jealousy. One Euro
pean statesman, enjoying excellent
sources of information, told a private
audience the other day: THE United
States wants superiority in big cruisers
in order to break the British hege-
mony."
European liberals insist that they
can see no difference between the
spirit of Gen. Groener's memorandum,
baSing the German policy of fear of
Poland and Frances policy Of fear of
Germany, and Britain's refusal to al
low the channel tunnel to be built for
fear of French invasion and the United
States 15-cruiSer program based on
fear of the British navy.
People of Europe generally are be-
by the fact that no sooner
was the Kellogg pact hailed as the be-
ginning of an era of peace, than the
United States Senate, after ratifying
the Kellogg pact, rushed to vote for a
great naval increase.
Europe's Interpretation.
In broad symbolism this is taken
abroad as a sign that the United States
has little faith in her. own peace de-
vices. The situation is not only
blocking the disarmament
efforts of the league of nations, but
is distracting attention from land
ornaments and stimulating naval de-
velopments of various countries, for
Germany. Poland,
Russia, Italy ana Spain. For II the
next great struggle for powers centers
on the seas, everybody wants to be in
on it.
The suggestion that war can actually
result between the United States and
Great Britain is secuted; yet assertions
that such war is "unthinkable and
impossible" are equally secuted.
Col. House has been on record as
saying that such war is not i'm
possible and now Ramsay Macdonald
admits similar misgiving. Senator
Borah himself, in Thursdays speech,
characterized such situation as a
naval race" and is reported to have
said that either Britain must accept,
in the new conference on the sea law
the interpretations of the United
States or the United States will out
build Britain in naval matters.
Europe finds all this disquieting and