Evening star., 1934-12-20
ThePOlitical Mill
By C.. Could Lincoln.

Thirteen years ago the Washington
Arms Conference produced the first
major naval limitation treaty the
world had ever seen. The world was
thrilled. War weary, it had visions
of permanent peace. Within day or
two 1t Is expected that Japan. one Of
the principal naval powers and sigma
tory to the Washington naval limita-
ton treaty, will formally denounce
that pact. 1t has been generally in
terpreted that this will mean q naval
building race, in which the United
States, Great Britain and Japan will
all be involved, and perhaps France
and Italy. II this happens, the United
States Government will have itself TO
blame. The course 1t has pursued
with regard to naval building-until
the last few years-undoubtedly Is
responsible.
When the Washington Naval Limi-
tation treaty was written and signed
it was agreed that the ratio Of naval
strength of the three major naval
powers should be 5-5-3, with the
United States and Great Britain hav-
ing equal strength and Japan's naval
strength in the ratio of 3 to S, as
compared to the others. Did the
United States build its Navy up to
treaty strength? 1t did not. Con-
gress and the Executive both failed
to take the necessary action. While
the United States Jagged and allowed
its naval strength to fall more and
more behind its treaty strength, Japan,
and to a somewhat lesser degree,
Great Britain, continued to build new
naval vessel. The result was that
when in 1880 the London Naval Con-
ference took place the United States
was In no position to make effective
demands for further naval reduction.
Japan at that time inched up appre-
ciably in ratio strength. And now,
Japan, demanding equal strength on
the sea with the United States and
Great Britain, is about to denounce
the treaty, and the whole vicious sys-
tenn Of competitive naval building Is to
begin all over.
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1t may be too late to cry over spilled
milk. But it certainly seems clear
that II the United States had gone
ahead with naval construction and
kept its Navy at full treaty strength
that is, as 5 is to so far as Great
Britain is concerned and 5 is to 3 in
comparison with the Japanese Navy
the proposal to continue and extend
the naval limitation treaties of Wash
ington and London would have had
very different reception in the recent
London conferences. The prospects of
a new naval building race then would
have been exceedingly dim.
The British have sided with the
United States in the discussions which
have just wound up in London over
the naval treaty. The contention of
the United States, In which the British
have joined, is that equality in security
is the main thing to be demanded, and
that Japan has equal security within
her own waters and sphere OF oper-
alton. even though her naval strength
was maintained at a ratio of 8 to s.
Great Britain has wide interests in
the East and the Pacific. The United
States has the Philippines, Hawaii and
other possessions in the Pacific. To
give them equal security they must
have greater naval strength.
The naval limitation treaty runs
for another two years, even though
now denounced by Japan. The hope
Is expressed both by the British and
the Americans that Japan may even
tually be persuaded TO revise her pres
ent stand and enter again into naval
limitation agreements. However, IN
the meantime. If the United States
fails to go ahead and build its Navy
up to the full treaty strength it will
be left again in a weak position when
1t comes to negotiations with the other
powers, and weaker still should con-
fict arise.
Without going into the merits of
the contention that the public utilities
In New York have been holding I'D
the city government in their charges
Tor electricity, the announcement that
the Federal Government is going into
| the manufacture of electric power in
big way in New York is something
to think about. 1t is going to lend
$4,000, 900 and, apparently, as much
more as may be necessary to the City
OF New York to go ahead and build
a plant. Mayor La Guardia, after his
| conferences here with the President
and with Secretary Ickes of the In
terror Department., head Of the P. w.
A., whose funds will be used in the
construction of this municipal power
plant, indicated that If the utility
companies did not bring their rates
down to the general public, the Gov
eminent plant would 60 ahead and
sell power to the people generally.
Furthermore, he insisted that the
| Government plant would be con-
structed whether or not the utility
companies agree to make better terms
with the city and with the Federal
Government for power and light. 1t
does not look 80 hot" for the utilities.
| The President insists that properly
nnanced and properly run utilities
need have no fear from the competi-
ton OF the Government. But who is
going to determine what Is or is not
properly run? In addition. once let
the Government get into the manu-
facture and sale of electric power in
a big way, and the men who run
those operations for the Government
Will want to branch out, and the good
little companies. if there are any, will
have just about as much chance to
survive as the bad ones.
X 4 4
The soldiers bonus was the child
OF politics when it Was born back
In 1924. 1t has been in politics ever
| since. Both the Democrats and Re-
publicans have made what they could
OF the bonus for political advantage.
1t is scarcely surprising, perhaps, that
the Republicans in Congress. gen.
orally speaking. are preparing now
to get behind the immediate cash
payment Of the bonus, when the
Democratic President is inclined to
oppose the payment. The fact that
the payment of the bonus now NAV
seriously impair the Nations credit
apparently sinks into insignifcance
as compared to the need for being
on the popular side Of this uues-
ton. Whether the administration