NEWS OF THE WEEK T HE London naval talks are leading
nowhere, but it is not yet entirely clear whether Japan is negotiating. in the Oriental fashion, with a view to accepting later. less than she is asking now. If not then an era of appall- ingly costly competitive building appears to be in prospect. What it means may be gauged by the fact that the latest type of 35,000 ton battleship, such as Italy is already laying down (as she is entitled to under the Washington Treaty), is to involve her taxpayers in the equivalent of £9,000,000. And the Americans arc opposed to even the modest reduction in size from 35,000 tons to 25,000 desired by our own Government. In cruisers equally this country and the United States are still at odds, for the Americans still regard the . 10,000 ton type as essential for them. The need for a naval agreement has never been so unanswerably de- monstrated.. In Europe Germany's 10,000 ton pocket battleship has impelled France to lay . down two 23,500. vessels, and Fiance has been answered by Italy with a programme of two of 35,000 tons. Outside Europe it is a matter of indifference to us what the size of the American fleet may be, but Japan will insist on building against America and we cannot disregard Japan's expansion. Of the three chief naval Powers it. is Japan which is setting the pace and Japan that can afford it least. Therein lies the best, if not the only, hope of some accommodation.
