Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
BY FRANK H. SIMONDS.

~ EsPITE natural protests from
champions of the American
Navy, the action of the Presi-
~ dent in imposing a very con-
siderable reduction in the
naval construction program for the cur
rent year not only is sound in itself,
but is useful contribution to the gen.
eral world situation.
1t is, in fact the single useful con-
tribution the United States can make
TO world disarmament as long as Amer
lean public opinion remains fixed
against all sorts of political engage
mentS.
Protest on the part Of the Navy
arises from the clear perception that
the Presidents course will postpone at
tainment Of parity with Great Britain
and the 1917 ratio with Japan in
cruisers to such an extent that we shall
go to the 1885 conference still having
only nominal parity.
This would be a serious matter If
American security were threatened to-
day either By British or Japanese pol
icy. But such obviously is not the
case. The British situation is such
that a quarrel with the United States
would be frank suicide. In the case of
the japanese, despite postponement of
building our strength remains decisive
in our own waters. Between now and
1885 neither Britain nor JapHn could
even co0ceivablv adopt a policy dan
gercus for American security. And. of
course, neither country even dreams
of such a course.
Parity Question Sentimental.
The question of parity at the moment
Is sentimental rather than a prac-
teal question. Between the close Of
ITrV-1l ~E
Hoover and Macdonald at Rapidan a
great battle was fought automatically
between London and Washington over
the question of the right of the United
States to possess a fleet equal to that
OF Britain. American policy in this
debate was sound, being based upon
obvious national need. The war had
disclosed. while we were still neutral,
the unmistakable fact that our mari
time rights were at the mercy of bel
Igerents, who were encouraged to ignore
them by reason of our impotence. That
situation was irtolerable and in the
end led to our being dragged into tho
war. The great naval construction
program of 1916 represented the in
Stinct Of the country to possess the
means of maintaining its rights. Not
until the failure of the Coolidge Con-
ference did the British public at last
the alternative of a competition in con-
struction which they could not hope to
win and a definitive recognition of the
American right to parity The British
Tories having fought parity, the British
public in 1929 turned them out and be-
slowed upon Macdonald the clear man.
date to settle the American dispute on
the best possible terms. That settle
ment took place at the Rapidan and
was witnessed later by the contracts
of the London Naval Conference. The
right of parity could no longer be dis
puted, and the naval quarrel between
London and Washington was over.
Possessing the right to parity, how
ever, the United States either must
build up to the existing British level
or persuade the British to come down.
In 1880 the latter course seemed out of
the question, because of British views
of their own needs. We therefore set
out to overtake the British. Now our
pursuit construction program is visibly
slowed down by the Presidents present
course.
On the other hand, much has hap
pened to the British since the London