Zurich Herald, 1930-02-20, Page 3THE GREAT CONFERENCE
By J. L, Garvin
The delegates of, the Five Powers
are in London; conversation has a1 -
ready begun. Franco -Italian relations
are the hardest crux. To the fortunes
Of the whole Conference itself, though
not necessary to events afterwards,
France beyond doubt holde the key;
and it is well indeed that she is re-
presented by the most brilliant o,f her
younger statesmen .-- Monsieur Tar-
dieu, whose personal knowledge of the
English-speaking world is remarkable,.
The three main issue:; technically
are those of battleships, large cruisers
and submarines.
Floating Fortresses Must Go
Itis absolutely certain that unless
there is drastic dealing with the float-
ing fortresses there will be no finan-
cial economy worth speaking about,
and no real change of heart as re-
gards naval armanfents. They have
involved Britain and America especial-
ly in vast waste of money and they
will be the mock of satire in another
generation. They are the world's worst
symbols of war -mentality. They are
not suitable engines for any future
war. They are another unimaginative
example (history has furnished many)
of exagger'atedpreparation Por—the
dependence so long as the Coyeuant
and the l[elogg Pact give her no Con-
crete
oncrete guarantee of support. You may
profoundly disagree with the thesis,
but to be impatient with it is foolish
It may he an almost insuperable lire
pediment to the general progress of
disarmament; it may be, as we think,
both a psychological mistake and a
technioai fallacy as regards ultimate
security itself. But It Is an absolute
French conviction not only fixed in
the mind, but burnt into the flesh by
the terrible memory of two trampling,
ravaging, wrecking iavasione. The
new French national system of arma-
monts and• fortification provides re-
latively to the rest of Europe, Britain
included, a dominant diplomacy linked
up with Poland and the ittle Entente;
a dominant army; a dominant air-
force; and a specialized navy which
when plans are completed is to in-
clude marked strength in cruisers and
destroyers as well as the most formid-
able submarine-ferce exiating.
No Abolition of Submarines
How can the Five -Power Conference
mitigate the situation on the naval
side? It is uselessly suggested that
France, in 1 «i• present state of mind,
shall abolish submarines altogether.
past war. The monstrous battleship She will do nothing of the -rind. No
as a monstrous fallacy. Hostile air- French Government could do it. The
craft, if there is another .grapple to Repubilo.eon'lnands the most coherent
the death between nations,, will attack and unified of colonial empires. Our
first the. supplies and the life of an neighbors regard as indispensable to
an
importing people, not the fleets. Air- their complete project of security
craft will bomb, burn, and stifle the assured connection with the man -
ports and shipping and the dense key- power and material res..vrces of their
towns in spite of the "Nelson," "Rod- great consolidated North African do-
ney," "Hood," and so forth. Rather minion. The Marseilles-Alglers pass -
than depend on those—if we are in- age forwards and backgrounds is held
[feed to think in realistic war -terms— to be a chief line of life, requiring to
it would be better to halve the fleet be protect d by a definite submarine
,and treble the air -force. and cruiser supremacy in the Mediter-
Germany's Famous Pocket Battleship ranean.
Stop Preparin,l for Past War
Germany is settingcan example Then, is nothing to be done? Are
;which may a spthe prey o. brains.Ta. we to throw up our hands? Not at
'ortonally, size isthe prey havef e all. Though submarines cannot be
into'More brains and science gone
abolished altogether a most valuable
ties the than weres German "pocket bat -intermediate gain is possible. As we
into on e packed before said,let the statesmen of America,
into one bell. ch,rhContrived thought,
original Britain, and Japan stop "preparing
the
of "Ersatz Preussen,"
tn" t ht, and skill, for the past war" at enormous waste
the ous displacement,
though only f of money and gross misuse of ma -
match
forors any
splacem p willo wbe a terial. Let them agree accordingly to
match anwarship up will twice abolish the gigantic battleship, even
comparable
sera now afloat. She rbin- if the present monsters must be per-
contparable as a blockade -breaker ing mitted to die out within a specified
and fighting ship sh As a hunting period instead of being summarily
and fighting ship she reduces to insig-dscrapped. Let them reduce by at
ni.fice a the cruisersto of equal havealeast one half the maximum now al-
caue d the pro 10,000 tons, • which n lowed for replacement ships. Noth-
cauerd prodigious fuss between ing smaller than proposals like this
;Amckica and Britain. The German would he worthy of the decisive spirit
"igned tto nearly is wonderfullyars ipsde- of Charles Hughes at Washington in
bated to sink alld the warships 1921. Let this be done, and France,
that could catchdher, and to escape the though still unable to abandon her un -
few that could sink her. derwater boat, could not refuse to
No understood
Over 17,000 the Tons diminish the gravity of the submarine
It is mpro that will Confer- question by consenting to some de-
wneeith some proposals s be made— finite limitation of sizes and numbers.
de -
with everyge lent -t r easy but made- She is now completing at Cherbourg
life o agreement foe lengthening the the sinister `Surcouf," a giant sub-
ing
of existing battleships maximumand size
c- marine of over 3,000 tons. That way
theirhg more a sors the mrs,forsize of the old madness lies—threat and
successors. put Rma, what counter -action, poison 'and antidote.
it is worth, ppre that maximum too Limitation offers the likeliest means
' high. The present "�'4ashington" of accommodation with Italy*.
standard should be cut down by fifty But are we equally boand to say
per cent. Allowing anything bigger that the German pocket battle-ctuiser,
merely giveslas more scopeto cothing but however natural and masterly as a
place aso well as to cost. Nothing but triumph over Versailles restrictions,
limitation h sizesnwill compel the is crammed -vith challenge to competi-
sailors of other nations to equal Ger- tion. More of these aro to
, man efficiency as stimulated by the built (thoughof these
four vessels as yet
awayifro restrictions; i; and toh break bmenl.ioued) by the great maritime na-
War." from .hall be on for the Past tion which won again the blue ribbon
any• We shall be diietd is of the Atlantic for passenger steam -
ea ofgrace
battleship allo downdto after this erg Anyone who reads: "Nauticus"
year n at t is most. to exceed 17, -and. the "Marine Rundschau," the
000 toes se the most. • ablest naval annual and monthly in
. . Cruisers and Common Sense
Canada's New High Commissioner?
MAY SUCCEED LATE HON. PETER LARKIN
Hon. Vincent Massey, Canadian minister to Washington, who is likely
to be the next Canadian high commissioner in London, in succession to the
late Hon. Peter C. Larkin, it is believed at Ottawa. George Washington
Stephens, former head of the Saar governing commission in 1923-26, may be
accredited to the White House to replace Mr. Massey.
Sealers' Drama
British Youths
For Dominion
London,--^ 'under au agreement
between the British and Alberta
Governments, 100 youth from 17 to
20 years of age are being selected
by Herbert Greenfield, agent -gen;,
sial for ,Alberta, for agricultural
training and settlement in Alberta
by early sumer. The Rret group
will sail on March 18
Next Fifty Years
Belong to Canada
Sir Esme Howard is Full of
Admiration for Dominion
CanadamColoxnbia
Trade Expanding
Jorge Gonzales, Consul -Gen-
eral, Predicts Future
Steady Growth
The rise in trade between Canada
and Colombia in the past seven years
has been remarkable, said Jorge Gon-
zales, consul -general of the Republic
of Colombia to Carada recently. Since
he began his dutie in 1923 the ex-
ports from the republic to the Domi-
nion had increased 20 times and the
exports from the Dominion to the Re-
public had increased 12 times, he ad-
ded in illustration.
Senor Gonzales said that the possi-
bilities
ossibilities of a still greater volume of
trade between the tw^ countries would
be much enhanced by a direct line of
ships between them. Canada was lit-
tle known in South America and al-
most unknown in Colombia. This
was largely due to the fact that there
was no direct communication by sea.
At present goods from Canada reach-
ed Colombia only through the United
States, and when the goods reached
the south they were known, not as
Canadian produce, but as American.
0 . Only when the produce reachea Col-
ombia as Canadian would the trade
reach its full possibilities.
Demand is Great
For there was great demand for the
Situation Serious in Rank of things that Canada produced.. Though
NATIONAL SPIRIT
British Ambassador Hopes to
Return for Longer Visit
Washington,—"I think the next fifty
years belong to Canada," said Sir
Esme Howard,,
The British Ambassador, soon to re-
tire, returned from his farewell visit
to the Dominion obviously refreshed:
and invigorated and full of admira-
tion.
"It was delightful to visit Canada
.again and renew old acquaintance-
ship," he said.
Discussing the economic future of
Canada, Sir Esme remarked that, un-
like less fortunate countries, the Do-
minion's eggs were not all in one bas-
ket. He foresaw the industrialization
of the cotintry with the development
of hydro electric power sources "in
which it is wealthier than any other
land," together with the advance in
industry and the use to which vast
and varied resources might be put,
and proportionate and necessary in-
crease in agricultural production.
Expressing a particular interest in
the opening of Hudson Bay, Sir Esme
said he wished he had been able to
visit that part of the country as well
az the Cobalt district.
CANADA'S NATIONHOOD
With obvious pride the Ambassador
then spoke of the Dominion's nation-
hood and said he had noted with a
thrill of interest the national spirit of
the Canadians which, inherently Brit-
ish, ever grew and strengthened. He
observed also the breadth of the Can-
adian outlook reflected in the press
where prominence was given to world
and imperial affairs.
This was Sir Es:ne's first visit to
Canada in the winter time. "The air
is so clear," he said. "The bracing air
in Ottawa I should think is not unlike
that in the Swiss Alps."
The Ambassador hoped that some
time he would be able to return to
Canada for a longer visit. When it
was suggested he should take six
months or so for a leisurely trip from
Halifax to Vancouver, he said "that
would be a 7e:'y great pleasure in-
deed."
"I ani growing old, growing old," he
said. His eyes were merry. He rose
Religious Battle
Will Be Filmed Upsets England
Ori ice Floes
Colombia is rich and can produce
Anglican Church flora and fauna of every known de-
Varick Frissell, Amateur Dir-
ector,
ir
ect Heads Company
the world, sees at once that German
Cruisers are a simplier matter in sea -spirit is intense though iepressed.
spite of all the preposterous bother The Five -Power Conference would be
that has been made about then since foolish if it turn 1. the blind eye to
the British -American muddle at Gen- that fact. At least let them get a
eva. For the necessary adjustment to
'any agreed parity with the United
: States, British requirements . in this
branch have been cut down to a mini-
'
ini' It is settled that we shall not go to
War with the United States in any cir-
cumstances. It does not matter a
brass farthing to this country wheth-
er America in the name of parity gets
• -▪ .'three, or four 10,000 -ton eight -high gun
'crui;;ers over and above what Our Ath
nii>`als think justified by a pedantic
idea of parity. Let them r•enlernber
that what their professional counter-
parts across the Atlantic have 'want-
ed
wanted in their hearts, is two to one.. The
.statesmen on both sides, not the sail
ors,..leave saved us from that.
the Position of Japan
• But it is said that Japan will jeopar-
dize the contingent Hoover -MacDon-
ald understanding by insisting on a
slightly higher ratio for 10,000 ton
crus vers, giving her an additional two
or three of these vessels. We do not
• li'elieve for a single instant that the
Conference wil be imperilled on this
of all issues. Our reasons are both po-
litical and technical. The Japanese
are a wise people. They know that
we here admire and like them; that
the whole English-spoaking world de-
sire:, amity and co-operation with
theist on the fairest terns of live and
let live; and that further goodwill,
• though an imponderable element of
sec:lrity, is a real equivalent to a cer-
twin amount of tonnage. Again, they
are \cell aware that the "Ersatz Preus-
sen" will make obsolete the designs of
all he eight -inch cruisers which were
so lately the nowest boast.
Burnt facto the Flesh
'Oral:es for the present is wedded to
th '11(1',t•y of armed security by land,
Circles scription because of the vast variety
Or, London—"The biggest crisis since of her climate, yet she needed and
imported great quantities of manufac-
tured in Newfound- the Reformation." This is the des- articles, of maohanery itself,
land
A sound -screen romance with its
theme centering about the adventures
of Labrador seal fisheries and the
perilous lives of the old-time fisher-
men out of Newfoundland ports is the
project undertaken recently by Var-
icic Frissell, amateur cinema director,
whose expedition, aboard Captain Bob
seription being applied :o the re- and particularly of flour.
Iations between the Church and State, "But," said Senor Gonzales, "]f
which are again agitating the entire Canada is unknown in Colombia, the
country, following recent action by reverse is also true, It is not under -
the Church Assembly in adopting the stood that the inhabitants of our under-
the
of York's recommendation public are 60 per cent. white and that
that a commission be appointed to they carry in their blood all the cour-
probe Britain's religious ills. age and energy of their Spanish fore -
A statement issued recently by the fathers, the Conquistadores. We have
Archbishop of Canterbury describing many of their fine qualities and we
the situation as precarious is regard- have cast off many of their bad ones.
eel as moderate in the circumstances, We are not a conglomeration of peo-
ples. We have an organized state.
We have a life and mind of our own."
The geographical situation of Col-
ombia
olombia was such. that it had no sea-
sons and all climates, said Senor Gon-
zales. From the torrid, humid at-
mosphere of the coastal regions,
where tropical products grew, to the
high, clry cold atmosphere of the Cor-
dilleras, where the products peculiar
to temperate countries grew, the Col-
ombians could draw all sorts and
kinds of produce. While coffee was
the largest export of the country at
present, there was a great field for
other exports, particularly of fruit.
Government Stable
The government of the country, too,
lie added, was stable. This was wit-
nessed by the fact that the Colombian
peso was practically at par on the
Canadian exchange and fluctuated
very little, if at all. There was every -
Bartlett's schooner Morrisey, will sail because it is realized that if the ex-
from
sfrom St. Johns, Newfoundland, early tra-legal actions of the Bishops should
in February for the sealing grounds. be brought into open conflict with
In collaboration with technical ex- public law, the question of disestab-
perts familiar with the requirements1 moment will be raised in an acute
of sound film production, Mr. Frissell
will utilize as, the stage for his drama
the ice floes and north Atlantic
wastes which constitute the seal hunt-
ing grounds of the fleet of sail and
steam vessels which annually puts
out from St. Johns in quest of the
pelts of these denizens of the near -
Arctic regions.
During one of his trips to the north -
forte.
The Archbishop of Canterbury says
that nobody wants disestablishment,
but the Archbishop of York says that
"perpetual anomalies are arising in
the divergence between the marriage
law of the Church and that of the
state.
Not Too Great
"The price of clisestablishnrent,"
land Mr. Frissell became acquainted continues the latter, "would not be
with Captain Bob Bartlett, veteral too great to pay for spiritual rode•
seal hunter, fisherman, sailor and peuclenee-" "The water adventurer, whose tales '.And the Bishop of Durham: „ the
of his trips abroad the Morrisey shave only solution of spiritual indcpend-
been material contributions to the en'ce is disestablishment."
saga of sailing men.' Captain Bartlett The Bishop of Winchester: "We
will not only supervise the selection are face to face wita the gravest chal-
of locations on which scenes will be lenge between the spiritual and secu-
"shot," but will play the part of a lar 'since the Reformation."
sealing captain in the film, a char- • Other Church leaders are stressing
acter role not far removed from that the' fact that lawlessness is beginuieg
which he plays in actual life. to spread in the Church. `of England,
Those in charge of the production btit they admit that those in favor of
have selected Charles Starrett' and alieeastablishment are in
tbe
wml inoritygreat.
Miss Louise Huntington for the p10' o, however, ly increase if an open conflict through
he law courts•begins, as it is expect-
ed to shortly,
plain answer to a'plaifi t1uestioii. How i tagonists of the play. Although llir.
many of the 10,000 -ton eight -inch gun
cruisers would be i egttired, to be a.
match fon. one "Ersatz Preussen?"
Greatest Sacrifice ''Made by Britain
. No sacrifice can be asked from any
nation approaching that made by Bri-
tain,
ritain, which held the sovereignty ,of
the seas for long generations and now
on the Hoover -MacDonald basis ac-
cepts equality with ail its implications
—the greatest change of fts kind: dura
ing a few short Sears that history has
known.—MVloiltreal Standard. •
IR -10O Will Not Be
Taken to Tropics
Gasoline Engines Would Be
Dangerous in Extreme
` Heat
London.—The new British airship
R-100 is not considered suitable for
use in tropical climates and conse-
quently her operations will be con-
fined, for some time at least, to north-
ern latitudes, said Hon. F. Montague,
Under-Secretary for Air, in reply to
questions in Parliament
Mr. 14iontague explained the' 8.100
was fitted with gasoline engines,
which wottld beahighly dangerous'in
the extreme heat of the tropics. It
was not proposed as yet to re -engine
the vessel with compression ignition
engines using crude oil, as used in the
sister ship, R-101, since these engines
were still, in the experimental stage.
The R-100 is to make her trial flight
from Britain to Canada in the spring.
Starrett has figured in leading roles
in screen stories before, Miss'Hunt-
ington has never before appeared in
this capacity.
"The most successful religion is a
superstition. which has enslaved a
air, anci sea alike as the only sure philosophy."—Dean Inge.
•:•--------
We weaken when we exaggerate.
briskly.
Saskatchew n to
Have No New
Court Buildings
Anderson Government Re-
quires all Funds for Edu-
cational and Highway
Developments
Regina, Sask—There will be no new
court house for Saskatchewan this
year.
That's the decree of the Anderson
Governmeut which has been urged to
build several new law court struc-
tures. -
The answer is that the Government
must look after educational and high-
ways expenditures first.
Sir Frederick Haultain, Chief Jus-
tice of the Court of Appeal, other emi-
nent jurists and barristers, and Re-
gina civic leaders, pressed the Govern -
thing, therefore, which was likely to' meet to build• a million -dollar law
give great promise of expansion of
trade between the two countries. •
Colombia was, moreover, predis-
posed to trade with the British peo-
courts building in the Capital City,
but they were turned down.
Saskatoon asked for a new court
house and there was rumors of a plan
files, for they still remembered the to move the Court of Appeal to. the
day when Britain had sent out arms
and money and hien to aid them in
throwing off the Spanish yoke.
the world would
be done in the
Salisbury..
"Half the evils of
stop if they had to
light of day."—Lord
' Looking After Canada's Interests
'a -at '"'"aaaalaitala
Northern city.
The Government has called a halt•to
Saskatoon's ambitious. While the
Government turned down requests for
a new court house, intentions, are to
spend some millions on buildings of
other kinds this year.
A million -dollar school for the deaf
at Saskatoon, a new Arts building at
the University of Saskatchewan, an
institution for mentally deficient child-
ren, additional accommodation at the
Provincial Home for Aged People and
more accommodation iu provincial
sanatoria are among the thiings plan-
ned by the Anderson administration.
On top of that Dr. Anderson is keen
about putting in new schools in re-
mote parts of the province, iuciuding
northern areas where half-breed and
white children are not now served.
The highways program is a particu-
larly ambitious one.
It is planned to spend $10,000,000
within the next three years on im-
proved roads.
PHOTOGRAPH HERE SHOWS CANADIAN DELEGATES FOR NAVAL CONFERENCE fIN defers LONDONnd Col,
Lett to right—Commodore Walter Hose, chief of naval staff; Col. J, L. Ralston, minister
G. P. Vanier, D.S,O., ivl,d. ,
Devotees of Sport
Chicoutimi Progress: People of all
ages and both sexes waste precious
hours discussing the chance of this or
that club, and of this or that boxer or
wrestler to vanquish his opponent. I
should like to see a part of these
thousands of hours, which are lost
each year, employed in the study of
matters which may improve our young
people; I should like to see some of
then used in work of a social, literary,
artistic, economic or other useful char-
acter. In all sincerity we waste much
time talking about sports,
Mrs. Blabface -- "That new hat
makes your face look short." Mrs,
Styles ---"That's strange. It made my
husband's face look long."