Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
BY FRANK II. SIMoNDS.

N VOW that the Macdonald visit Is
a matter of ancient history, ii
VI is possible and perhaps profit
4 able to examine the results OF
what certainly constitutes an
unprecedented episode. To put the mat
ter specifically, what effect has the visit
had, alike upon the narrower issue OF
naval parity and the broader and more
important question of Anglo American
relations?
1t is clear that Mr.. Macdonalds visit,
following as it did approximate agree
ment between our Government and the
British upon the formula of Parity. con-
stitutes unmistakable proof that the
British nation has accepted the prin-
ciple of parity in all branches Of naval
establishment. as it accepted the prin-
ciple in respect of battleshipS at the
Washington conference.
This acceptance is no longer vague
and indefinite. The British have in
substance declared that British security
can be translated into naval tonnage
and the reading will be 339 900 tons of
cruisers, divided among so ships, of
which IS should be 10,000-ton boats,
mounting 8-inch guns and belonging to
the so-called cruiser type. This repre-
sentS something like a cut of 20 ships
and 100000 tons from the figures pro-
posed by the British at Geneva in the
Coolidge conference of 1927.
We, on our side, have affirmed that
the double objective of parity and Sc
Curity can be attained for us by the pos
session of $4,000 tons of cruisers, dis
tributed among 36 ships, of which 81
are to be of the Washington type, the
balance to be 7,000-ton craft, mounting
6-inch guns and belonging to type of
which We already have 10. In accord
ance with this estimate, we should have
two less 10,000-ton craft than would be
constructed under the provisions of the
is cruiser bill and five more Of the
smaller boats.
Differences Can Be Compromised.
There remains the difference in opinion
between the experts of the two nations.
We hold that our $4,000 tons thus ap-
portioned would be equivalent in mill
tary value to the British 1913, 900 tons.
The British insist that we should be
equal If we had 18 instead of 81 cruisers
of the Washington type. 1t is clear. in
any event, that, given the British neces-
sites, they are bound to have more
smaller ships than we, and, given our
requirements. we shall put bigger part
of our tonnage in larger ships.
Thus the difference boilS down to
three Washington cruisers. And it goes
without saying that the agreement will
be had on this point by compromise.
The fact that the difference in view
has arisen, however, discloses the in
evitable limitation of the principle Of
equivalent naval values" of which we
heard so much earlier in the year.
Great Psychological Gain.
II one turn to the larger question,
the effect of the British prime minister's
visit upon Anglo-An1erican relations,
one must concede at once the enormous
improvement IN psychological and at
mospheric conditions. In the mind Of
the average American, Ramsey Mac
donald has established the conviction
that the British are playing the game
fairly in the matter of parity, that they
not only recognize the principle but,
even in putting the thing into figures,
have disclosed no intention to take back
in practice what they conceded in
phrase
Nevertheless. one must also recognize
that, great as is the gain thus marked,
the main question remains yet unap-
preached. The danger Of collision Of
policies between the two peoples has not
been materially lessened by the con-
versations of the American President
and the British premier beside the
Rapidan or on the banks of the Poto-
mac, because neither was in a position
to contribute to this end. We are now
sure to have fleet equal to the British,
but we are. in theory at least, not a
whit less likely to fall out with them
over the traditional question of the
freedom of the seas.
British Rely on Fleet.
This is the case because British Sc
curity still rests primarily not alone
upon the British feet but upon the en-
ployment of the feet in the traditional
manner. And British obligations in
CURED as member of the League of
Nations have increased the likelihood of
a clash between American and British
policies. For, as a member of the
League, the British government is bound
to use its feet against any nation that
shall be pronounced an agreSsor by the
League. But since we are not a mem
Der of the League We are in a nositinn