12 OCTOBER 1929, Page 1

Happily, something on a much higher level than a parity

scheme is really the foundation of the naval arrangement. The foundation is the Peace Pact which dismisses war. War is no longer a legal political instru- ment for honest nations. Among those who are loyal to the Peace Pact--those who will settle their disputes by any and every means except by war---the strength of navies cannot be a subject of jealousy or fear. In fine, Great Britain and the United States have planned a perpetual peace of good faith. The maintenance of such 489 a peace will be made infinitely easier by a regular personal contact between American and British statesmen. No British Prime Minister during his term of office has ever before visited America. Now that Mr. MacDonald has set a precedent, we sincerely hope that personal con- versations between American and British statesmen will be as regular as those among European statesmen. The personal touch is invaluable. This doctrine may seem to have a touch of sentimentality, but experience has shown it to be realistically true.

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