New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1930-06-18

During the conversation. Sir AUS
tin, seated in a comfortable chair
at his new private residence in Ken
sington, discussed the European
peace situation at length. He said
he was sometimes inclined to think
that disarmament would have made
more progress if it had never been
the subject of formal conferences"
He expressed the belief that the in
production of parity is the standard
OF naval construction has raised a
new and grave problem in Europe.
OF himself Enthusiastically enough,
he spoke little. He did, however, ex-
plain to the correspondent that he
wore a monocle because the other
eye is SO weak that Wlndow-glass
would serve the purpose on one
side Of any pince-nez that he might
use.
Gives [. S. Superiority
The treaty OF London declared
Sir Austen, gives the United States
superiority in fact, although not in
name. That does not disturb me,
however, as l DO not consider
III u It DtINttIA LtIt Ll4lLtu H>LdLt5
and the British Empire as within the
bounds Of possibility. What. how
ever, does cause me some anxiety IS
that the United States should have
taken parity with the British Empire
as the standard Of its own naval
strength, for this inevitably leads TO
insidlous com parsons and a minute
and jealous scrutiny of the respec-
tive forces of our two countries such
as has occupied the senate commit
tee
We may neither of US conten1-
plate war with the other. but such
discussions by being inevitably con-
Quoted on the hypothesis of war are
unfortunate and much has been said
In them which has not made pleas
ant reading for friends Of the Unit
ed States in this country. I hope,
however, that this may be passing
phase which will disappear when
once the treaty has been approved,
In any case, a. I say, I am not my
self greatly concerned as to the rela-
tive strengths of the American and
British fleets,
Il am more anxious about the
effect of the agreement on our po-
sitlon as a European power, and on
the results which 1t has had on the
continent OF Europe. The introduce
ton Of parity as the standard of
naval construction undoubtedly rails
ed a new and grave problem in
Europe. Even among the three
powers that signed the treaty, re-
duction applies to the British En-
pire alone although limitation is
common to the three. But on the
continent of Europe I fear the re-
suit of the conference, far from be-
ing to limit, is to stimulate an in
grease in arnlaments,'
Franco Italian Situation
Referring to the protra cted
Fraaco-Italian negotiations which
took place during the conference, Sir
Austin deplored what he described
as the practice of calling formal
conferences" to solve the worlds
Armament problems.
1T is an unhappy but perhaps in
evltable result OF such conferences
he said, that they Concentrate at
tentlon on possible dangers which
any particular state may run and
they are apt, therefore, TO increase
national suspicious and fears rather
than TO produce sense of secur-
lily, Had public attention not been
aroused and concentrated on these
dangers by the discussions. It seems
to me not unlikely that the chronic
|indispositlon of governments to in
the burden on their peoples and the
special economic pressure of these
years, would have resulted in larger
reductions, than any We are now
likely TO obtain"
Sir Austen who. despite a certain
|snyness, is much easier to approach /
than his appearance would lead one |
to believe. is the type of man de- |
serbia BILE S an enigma, to strangers. /
To his friends, however. he is an
|Cpen book AS kind to those who |
know him. as he appears to be al |
most naughty to those who don't the /
imam of Locarno" is no less para
doxical in manner than in appear
ance.
And while he himself is said 10 be
somewhat of a dreamer and an
idealisty his respect for dreams and |