Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-01
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business of clipping the wings of this
sea force and this sea power as cautious
ly and adroitly and perSuasively as an
American Government would have to go
about modifying the sacred Constitution
in the interests of world peace.
1t can be done, for there IS new gen.
Grafton in Britain, and the empire lead
erS are aware that the first two empires
have gone and that they are now in the
opening phase of the third British en-
pire. Both Stanley Baldwin and the
Prince of Wales in their empire speeches
take their cue from this conception,
which was first expressed by Prof.
Alfred Zimmern. whose little book on
the subject, with penciled margenalia,
is an item in the princes baggage as
inevitable as his toothbrush. But it
has to be done with care, with patience
and with political adroitness.
The basic viewpoint has not changed
with the dramatic change of govern
ment. 1t is-but let an American.
| Raymond Leslie Buell., writing in The
Washington Star, state it: THE United
States is relatively self-contained; it
has merely two long coast lines to de-
fend and comparatively unimportant
overseas possessions, which are practi-
| cally defenseless because of lack of
naval bases. The British Isles, on the
other hand, are vitality dependent upon
overseas sources for food supply; the
possessions of the Empire are scatter
ed in every corner of the world More
over, the British government is in
volved in European, and even in Far
Eastern. politics to a greater extent
than the United States. 1t has &C
cepted heavy commitments to an eco
nomic blockade under the League of
Nations which do not bind the United
States"
Policy Discussed With Dawes.
Macdonald accepts that general view;
1t is the basic position he takes in his
talks with Ambassador Dawes; and
when it is Suggested-not by Dawes or
Hoover-that all Britain has to do is
scrap so many cruisers built and build
ing. Macdonald becomes a little tired
and inclined to point out that there
exist upon the planet other sea powers
besides Britain and America, and that
in addition to the Atlantic and Pacific
oceans there does exist a third sea in
which British, but not American, in
terests are heavily at stake, namely. the
Mediterranean; and that while he per-
sonally would gladly sink the entire
British fleet If the other sea powers
would sink there's, still, while fleets re-
main upon the seven seas the problem
or sea strength cannot be considered
by any. British government as merely
biateral.
In the situation that is shaping the
personality of Dawes has helped a lot
HIS Short-order work has a marked
effect upon public opinion in the island.
Within So hours of his arrival he had
presented his credentials to the King
at Windsor and was up at MacDonald's
temporary Highland home. discussing
the best way to get out of the tangle of
Anglo-American misunderstanding.
Three days later in London he made
his Pilgrims dinner speech, in which he
formulated his yardstick proposal, en-
phasized the futility of setting war ex-
pertS to argue with one another Gas
has been done hitherto), and suggested
that the business of the experts is to
provide the statesmen with a tool to
measure the fighting strength of ships
and the relative strength of navies and
leave it to the civilians to arrive at the
necessary working compromise of a
naval agreement.
Now Freed of Restraint
This energy and decisiveness and this
frank and comprehensive language have
opened in England a window in the
Stu1fy disarmament room and let in a
blast OF fresh air. MacDonald's path
has been considerably eased He can
now speak with decision at the League
assembly this month before he crosses
the Atlantic to talk with Mr.. Hoover.
And he may be able to go a long way
eventually If all goes we'll with his gov
eminent at home, for he would like
presently to play with the fire of the
which for America means the right to-
trade at all times where and how she
likes. N~
1nere is movement now on backed
by the publiciSt j. L. Garvin and Lord
Astors Sunday Observer to persuade
the British people to make I'm their
minds to let 60 their ancient and treas
ured right to search and blockade. the
operation OF which nearly brought
america into the war against the Allies
III 1910 ano gave impetus to Americas
naval expansion.
number of other non-Torv circles ,,,i1 -,
they discuss this Fundamental nrob1ey,,
tney are much attracted to the idea that
the right of blockade might be Welded
II .ne united States would give a solid
quld pro quo in the shape Of a binding
law prohibiting her nationals from trad.
ing with nation which goes to war |
In violation of the League covenant and
the Kellogg pact. Then Britain would |
not be saddled with the nightmare of a |
possible war under her Locarno treaty |
or League covenant pledges, in which |
she would have to choose between
standing ny and seeing American ships |
running war supplies bang into the |
enemy ports or insisting upon her right |
OF blockade. and so providing America |
with cause of war.
Macdonald Ideas Emphasized.
These are ideas which rise in the
Macdonald circle and blossom in dis |
cussion. Some of them may bear fruit. |
Meantime. Macdonald needs all his |
faith and all his tenacious courage |
when he looks at the armed camp men
call Europe. The war complex is still |
so strong that in 1929 armies and or
ganized reserves number 24.500,0O0, |
against the 21,500,000 of 1914. when |
Germany alone accounted for 100000 |
Of the grand total. Every state is OBJ
sessed by the fear which, as late as |
1926. Marshal Foch expressed thus: |
1.-THE next war may come Unexpectedly |
from anywhere. and will be more terri
bic than the last"
Eleven wears after the peace YOU still |