[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] SIR,— Not long ago
you opened your columns to correspondence on the subject of " Hating America." I think many people. in the educated classes in England who before the War had a friendly feeling for America now dislike that nation-- and can one wonder ? Read the recent address of President Coolidge, to Congress. . • For unctuous self-complacency; suppressio yeti and. suggestio falsz his references to the Geneva Convention,. American prosperity, and taxation there and here would be hard to beat. Anyone unaware of the facts would think that it was the fault of the British that no agreement was reached at Geneva. What are the facts ? We alone of the three Powers went to the Conference with a carefully prepared plan, the adoption of which; in whole or with modifications, meant a great saving in money by reduction of armaments.
The American delegation would have none of it. All along they flatly refused to understand our special insular position with a population depending for existence on imported food, involving the protection of long sea trade routes. Again, as to taxation, the suggestion is that by economy and care the American Government has been able to reduce Income Tax to 30., while we groan under a -4s. rate. •
The difference in the position of the two countries is so great that no attempted comparison is of any value: America made an enormous sum out of the War in the early stages, and though they spent freely later on they are now receiving yearly over thirty millions from Great Britain.
Apart from this their enormous material leaources, still not nearly developed to the full, and their abundant popula- tion, would more than account for their prosperity, while Great Britain staggers under a War debt of over seven thousand millions and the support of a million unemployed.
It is the blatant self-satisfaction of the American nation which antagonizes so many English people. We may envy them their prosperity, but it is not that that grates on our feelings.-- [We hesitated before deciding to publish this letter. Our reason for printing it is that we do not think there can be a complete understanding between the British and American Commonwealths if either side feels a grievance. It is much better in the interests of an English-speaking Entente—a
cause for which the Spectator cares before all else—that our columns should be open to frank speaking on both sides. This letter is typical of the views held by many Englishmen. We think our correspondent is unreasonable, and we need hardly say we do not share his views.
The breakdown of the Geneva Conference was due to faults on both sides. It is absurd to attribute the failure solely to America—as absurd as it is to attribute it entirely to Great Britain, as is done in some quarters in America.
As far as sane opinion in this country is concerned, it has no jealousy for the American Navy, and if the American Govern- ment likes to outbuild us on the seas we have nothing to say. We refuse to enter upon a rivalry in naval armaments, as we likewise refuse to consider the possibility of armed conflict between the English-speaking peoples.--En. Spectator.]
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