House of Representatives in respect of reduction of armaments both naval and military is to be watched with close interest. Opinion is divided in Amer: and it is not easy to see exactly who is for, who against big armaments. But the voting of the House of Representatives Foreign Committee in favour of an international conference te con: disarmament, and the overri of President Wilson's veto on reduction of the army, is clear-cut and significant. There appears no doubt that opinion in America is at WE growing very doubtful about sche advisability of the gigantic naval construction project passed last year, Possibly its extra expense due to higher costs all round and*bué recently disclosed thas something to do with this. But the hard business sense of the nation is also probably beginning to assert itself. If America wishes to have the colossal navy outlined in the present scheme, that is her affair. But does she? Unless she means to start~out on a freebooting adventure—at Allemande—which is too preposterous to be thought of-—whence can she seriously fear any aggression? And at the same time Americans not biassed by political party motives know very well that, if they build, others will do so. No better news could be wished than that Washington should invite the nations to a reduction of armaments programme,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.