Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-23
NEW NAVAL ATTITUDE
EXPECTED OF MCDONALD
Knowing America, England's Skilled
Premier Probably Will Avoid Issues
Distasteful Here.

On the other hand, if it were left for
the United States to decide of and for
itself whether nation had been guilty
or not, then the British could have no
security In advance that their decision
to support League decision would not
involve them in a controversy with an
American Government which might
presently decide that the League YER
dict was inequitable.
America Would Stand on.
In the nature Of things the United
States Is not in position to determine
instantly what European nation Is the
aggreSSor IN any quarrel, nor do the
vast majority of the American people
desire to take part in any European
conflict, because they believe that,
whatever may be the actual precipitat-
ing cause OF new war, il will almost
certainly be, like the World War, the
consequence Of whole host Of circum-
stances born Of the peculiar European
conditions.
In case Of q new European struggle
we should instantly be assailed by q
flood Of propaganda coming from both
sides. Beyond much doubt, both the
So-called aggressor and the opponents
would be represented by large groups
in our population. The desire to keep
out OF a new mess would be accentu-
ated by all that has happened as
consequence Of our participation In the
World War. In fact, our demand for
an equal fleet with Britain Is primarily
conditioned upon our desire to be in
sured against being dragged in by any
interference with our rights.
But Mr.. MacDonald's proposal,
Whatever form it may take, assumes
that We shall be at once concerned of
fieially In any European clash, that our
decision as to the aggressor viii, In
every case, coincide with Britain's and
that; II Britain again comes to war, we
shall never seek to employ our feet to
maintain our right as neutral. But
obviously in any such case we do not
need q feet equal to the British; parity
becomes an empty but expensive amuse-
n1ent II 1t Is to be INDUCED in not to
insure our own rights against the most
likely interference, but merely to crafty
national prestige.
A New Yardstick.
The essence Of the American demand
for parity now is an insistence on parity
pure and simple. Mr.. Hoover has sug-
gested that, In the fixation Of equality,
there shall be d new yardstick, namely,
equivalent naval values. While this In
wolves an enormous amount Of further
technical advice and calculation; It does
oner q way of escaping from the pres
emit deadlock precipitated by the In
sistence upon tonnage alone as the sole
means Of calculation. In the end O
rough-and-ready. equality could be found
without too much dificulty,. given an
equally controllin6 desire to agree on
both sides Of the Atlantic.
The time may come when the ma
jority Of the American people win be-
lieve that It Is just as important for us
as Tor Europeans to keep peace In Eu-
rope and that we have an equal inter-
est; therefore, In preserving tranquility
and disciplining any offender. But that
time certainly has not yet arrived and
meantime the demand for equality in
fleets has gained Nationwide accept
anee.
Thus, in my judgment, Mr.. MacDon.
aid win get into grave trouble with Con.
gress If, either Ia London or in WASH
1ngton, he seeks to put the question Of
the freedom Of the seas ahead Of that
Of equality Of fleets or for any reason
agrees to postpone q discussion, Of re-
duction OF existing programs. MIR.
substantial reduction In naval strengths
apparently Endorsed this demand. He
has also proposed q new formula for
estimating strength. To put all this
aside and start q discussion Of the free
dom Of the seas would certainly post
pone reduction, involve us in vast ex-
penses for the new cruisers already au-
thorized and steadily being laid down.
And the chances are that In the end
agreement about the freedom of the
seas would be lacking.
(Copyright, 1927