An Eager Eye on Washington Earl Beatty on the Conference and the Functions of the British Navy: Preserving the Status Quo: The Poppies of Flanders: The Liquor Question From Our Own Correspondent.
Kingston, Out., Nov. 28.
The Conference for the Limitation of Armaments at Washington is of course attracting much attention in Canada, and Sir Robert Borden is in attendance at it on behalf of the Dominion. His experience at the Peace Conference makes him a useful member, and he has already made the suggestion, which will in all probably be adopted, that frequent Conferences should be held with the view of seeing that the decisions arrived at are being acted upon.
The programme of naval reduction proposed by the United States Government, and assented to in principle by the leading nations at the Conference, will have some effect in Canada, if carried. The Caradian naval service expenditure though not pretentious will _probably be cut down, but even if this be not done the contemplated exten sion of the programme will be arrested. The Naval Service costs about $4,000,000 a year, of which two has to do with the maintenance of the squadron ships presented to the Dominion by the British Admiralty, and the other craft in the service. The whole question of the part to be played by the Overseas Dominions in relation to the Imperial Navy was deferred by the Premier's Conference till the outcome of the arms parley was known, and considering the present outlook Canada will benefit proportionately from any agreement to which the Nether Country may be a party.
The troublesome Navy question in Canada may thus be solved. It may be remembered that this caused a commotion before the war here. How the Liberals scoffed at the "emergency" which the Conservatives stated existed for preparing for war, and how they threw out Sir Robert Borden's Navy Bill which would have provided their dreadnoughts, was told in my letters at the time, and is but one instance of the feeling raised by our naval questions. Another ficial effect foreseen is the increasing surplus of steel products to such an extent as may operate to the reduction of price of all commodities such as railway equipment, structural work, agricultural or other machinery into which iron or steel enter. The huge quantities which have gone into instruments of war should in part be diverted commerce with a resultant lowering of prices.
Lorp Beatty on THE CONFERENCE.
Earl Beatty, the hero of the Battle of Jutland, the man who received the surrender of the Hun in 1918, has received a most enthusias-tie welcome in a short visit which he has paid to Canada. Very great and special preparations were made to do him honour. It was feared j at one time that the proceedings at the Conference for the Limitation of Armaments at Washington would prevent Lord Beatty from visiting Canada: but he was able to say at Toronto that:—"Our conversations have been of the kindest, the wholesome st, and of the most direct manner. The principles have been accepted as_ suggested by the Secretary of State, and that all is going well is indicated by the fact that I am here." Lord Beatty in his speeches here made some remarks which were of more than local interest, concerning the Conference, and are worth reporting.
He said among things:—"I have attended the Conference and I can teil you that all goes well. That Conference, as you all know, was brought into being by the President of the United States, who must earn the undying gratitude of the world for so doing. It was brought into being to do something to assist the already overburdened nations of the world so that the money and efforts which will be realized can be expended in promoting peace industry, to prosperity of the world, and the contentment of mankind.
"The world is full of hope that son.ething tangible is going to ye accomplished, and that hope is nowhere greater, I am sure, than in the minds and hearts of the members of the British Empire.
"You have all read the initial statement with which the Secretary of State, Mr. Hughes, opened the Conference. I am sure that a shudder' went through the minds of a great many members of the British Empire, and they wondered where it was going to lead us, because the burden of the song was directed at that great force, that great institution, the British Navy.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.