it remains to be seen whether the British naval expenditure will be increased to meet the challenge which the new construction programme announced in Italy offers. When the British rearmament scheme was first announced, to be completed over a period of five years, it was devised with an eye to just such a development as has now occurred, and it is more than likely that British opinion will be content with what has already been arranged. On the other hand there need be no surprise if Whitehall decides to enlarge its ideas and proceed with a greater scheme to the conditions which the Italian departure must necessarily bring about. It is more than a pity that by such means another naval race is being brought into being, but there is this consolation about it—the British nation is probably the only European Power which can face such a prospect with equanimity. It can bear the strain much better than Italy, and if by such means the Italian Government are to seek the maintenance of that Empire which it claims to be carving out for itself it will be paying a very high price for the perpetuation of what up to the present has proved a very expensive triumph. Competitive rearmament can only] lead to the same thing as it has done in the past, namely, war. and Europe is paying heavily for the preparation against another catastrophe. When all the directions in which the money, which is now being spent, could be laid out for the permanent benefit of each and every nation in this mad struggle are remembered the recklessness of these present proceedings is made apparent. No country can really afford to waste the huge sums that are being dissipated, and Italy least of all. Britain has now been convinced of the error of her disarmament policy and with her present programme and whatever additions she may decide to make to it, she should ultimately be provided with a powerful fleet of which a great proportion will consist of vessels Of most recent types. There is some comfort in that thought which should reduce developments in the Mediterranean 4o their proper Perspective. via this Scenic Route across CANADA
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.