Evening star., 1934-11-25
Britain in Critical Place
In Impasse Over Navy
BY A. G. GARDINER.

deadlock in the naval talks among
Great Britain, the United States and
japan has made critical the position
of the British government between
the sharply opposed attitudes OF
Japan and America.
Japan has put forward q demand
for naval parity with Britain and the
United States instead Of the 5-5-3
ratio Of the Washington agreement.
The American representatives have
declared the demand to be unaccept-
able. The British view Is that, while
the ratio 5-5-3 represents with
reasonable fairness the relative re-
uuirements Of the three countries for
defensive purposes, there may still be
found means Of satisfying the point
of national honor which Is under
stood to have weighed heavily with
Japan in putting forward her demand
1t was suggested that, If conceded
nominal parity, Japan might be will
ing to enter into a "gentlemen's
agreement not to build up to the
maximum. If national prestige were
really the predominant consideration
In the mind of Japan, this expedient
might have offered q way out OF the
deadlock, but 1t was soon made clear
that Japan feels she must be granted
full equality with both powers.
The gravity of Britain's position
needs no emphasis A rumor gained
currency, apropos Of the meeting at
Cheouers between Prime Minister
Macdonald and the Japanese repre-
sentatives, to the effect that the meet
ing inaugurated a new Anglo-Jap-
anese understanding to the detriment
Of the United States. The rumor
hardly merited the ofiicial contradic-
ton to which 1t was subjected, but
it indicates the disturbed and anxious
condition Of the public mind in re-
gard to the Far East.
On that subject very remarkable
deliverance by Gen. Smuts has Gre
ated widespread comment and sig
nificant approval in the press. 1t is
difncult to explain to American read
ers the unusual position which Gen.
Smuts occupies in the public mind
His great gifts, his striking record
and his detached and comprehensive
point Of view give him an authority
on larger imperial issues which Is
exercised by no statesman in the pub
lie life Of England today. On the
night before his return to South Africa
from his brief visit to this country
he made a speech to the Royal In
stitute Of International Affairs which
elicits from the London Times an
expression Of regret that q statement
so perspicacious and so wise Should
not have come from the lips Of
member Of our own cabinet"
\ *
This severe snub to the government
is the more significant in view of the
fact that by far the most important
passage Of Gen. Smuts' speech re-
ferred to the position Of this country
vis-a-vis Japan and the United
States. He foresees in the present
challenge to the washington treaty
the reopening of issues Of the integ-
rity of China, the open door and
world peace under which the Pacific
concert may collapse, and, while
urging that British Far Eastern policy
should be based on friendship with
all and exclusive understanding with
none, he leaves no doubt that in his
view "the future policy and associ-
alton of our great British common
wealth lie more with the United
States than with any other group in
the world"
."If ever" he said-in words to
which the London Times gives great
prominence-"there comes q parting
Of the ways, If ever in the crises Of
the future we are called upon to make
a choice, that, 1t seems to me, should
be the company we should prefer to
walk with and march with to the
unknown future. On that path lie our
past afiliations, our common moral
outlook, our hopes and fears for the
future Of our common civilization"
tCopyright. 1e341