Recent discussions in American public circles have attracted attention to the country's enlarged defence needs in view of the situation which may, or may not, develop favourably to the best interests of the United States. It is only natural that the unparalleled conditions prevailing in Europe, baring to the utmost detail and the last ounce of strength the political, military and economic policies and resources of the belligerents, should also envelope the United States and compel more studied examination of her own position. President Roosevelt has presented a record-breaking budget for peace time. There has been talk of a movement to build an Atlantic Fleet two-thirds of the Pacific Fleet as an added protection for the American Republics against encroachment: from Europe. Giant battleships of 60,000 tons and more have been mentioned, while Admiral H. R. Stark, Chief of Naval Operations. wasted few words in describing his country's naval defence needs to the House Naval Affairs Committee. Speaking bluntly, and with the authority which his position designates, he wants the fortification of Guam, in the Pacific, and the expenditure of U. S, $1,300,000 on a new building programme which would provide 107 ships as the minimum requirement based on the exigencies of the situation created by the European war. These figures would, on first sight, appear astounding, but they are merely fractional in the struggle for armed predominance which Germany initiated and which other countries must equal or excell if this threat to the whole civilization is to be countered. The economic policies of nations have to solve a gap in provision of armaments which is the problem of incredible magnitude to cover the only answer to the Nazi attempt to dominate the world—and it needs little thought to conceive what would happen if the Allies fail in their task of resisting this attempt. According to Herr Hitler himself, the Nazi regime has spent on armaments since it seized power 90 milliard marks, or about £6,000,000,000, while during that same period of 1933-39 the British defence bill was about £1,200,000,000. Even to the exclusion of the extraordinary war credits voted by Parliament for the conduct of the present war since September last, the Ameri-
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