17 MAY 1930, Page 2

The statement of Mr. Stimson on the Naval Treaty to

the Foreign Relations Committee of the American Senate proved not only that he is- a very firm believer in the Treaty, but that he was much impressed by the sincerity of the British GovernMent. Comparing the ' British naval minimum at Geneva in 1927 with the fifty cruisers with which Great Britain is now satisfied, he said that the change was ' remarkable," and he added that- the whole American delegation' was convinced that " Great Britain is not building against us ; is not measuring her Fleet by ours." Thus has the greatest of all dangers— the strain between 'Great Britain and the United States— been - effectually -.removed. Next -- Mr;-- Stimsini-- very ably defended the Anglo-American - formula of parity.- He admitted that real paritywas quite impossible of attain- ment,. but if one side began -piling up • extraneous .argu: merits that made any Merely arithnietical calculation look foolish, the other side could match • every argainent with another equally good. His' 'conclusion was that the Strength of Fleets was " the only thing you can actually measure." '