One of the most significant features of the United States naval manceuvres is the fact that both Great Britain and France are ce-operating. Both Governments have consented to the use by the American forces of islands possessed by them in the Carribean Sea. It is probably not correct that both the contending forces are being allowed to make use of the islands as bases, for that would not be permitted in the event of actual war. Thus while in such a case Great Britain and France. might consent to the United States, in the event of that nation's resistance against aggression, making use of such islands, it is quite clear that their occupation by the attacking forces would force both those demo-crocies into the war if indeed they were not already participating. The significance of the whole matter lies in the demonstration of solidarity which has been established between the big democratic states, and the readiness with which they are prepared to ce-operate in stu: ing problems which may in the future arise with all seriousness. That is not to be taken as meaning that there is anything in the nae of a definite undertaking that the democracies should if threatened go to the aid of each other. The American policy is still to refrain from committing the country to those entanglements against which it was warned by one of the earliest of its statesmen, but there is a growing realization in that country that the democracies of the world will have to sink or swim together, The suggestion which was made by an Amerigan writer for a federation of democracies united regarding foreign matters, but preserving their win national characteristics, within the combination, may never be more than a very attrac-dream, but the fact that Britain and France ye teen able to render assistance to. the United States Navy in the study of a naval question which may be posed one of these days is an important earnest of present good undarstendings, and realization of the common menace with which all of them are threatened.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.