It_ would be unwise indeed 10 attach too much importance to all the talk which is going on concern-Ing the possibility of an Anglo-'American Alliance, especially the absence of any oficial statement calculated to throw a light upon the subject. There is_a large body of Public opinion in Britain, especially, Which believes that the best_ means of ensuring the peace of the world would be by the establishment of a benevolent hegemony by the two countries whose power and influence Wwould be able to exercise a restraining effect upon countries which have not yet perceived the benefits to be derived from a universal and per~ petual peace. But it is unlikely that any Anglo-American agreement would ever take the form of a documented pact covering all aspects of World polities. There is, howeve reason to believe that the govern ments of the two countries see eye to eye with each other on a large number of questions which vitally. affect the world, and there is more than a" little probability that, in certain elreumstances, they might proceed towards common action, Beyond that it is doubtful whether either would yo. There is in the United States a deep rooted dislike of foreign entanglements, There is a feeling of the same nature ins creasingly apparent in Great Britain, though it is certain that, if any additional entanglement were to be accepted by that country, none would be more agreeable than on with the United States. There is every reason to believe that White hall and Washington are being draw! closer together by reason of the political implications arising out of jan's demand for naval equality and the conimunity" of interests which might be threatened thereby. But it need not be solely political, Experiences during the war showed. that where the services of the two nations came into contact a feeling of cordiality was quickly to be seen. Xt is apparent here in. Shanghai, for since 1927 the most cordial relations have always existed between the men of the' American and British forces, and friendships formed of a lasting and most agreeable nature, Thus while a formal alliance may be unlikely there is a great, probability that community of interest may bring the two greatest natio world Into. a closer harmony, that would only be for the world's
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.