Naval Reduction Already the negotiations between Mr. Ramsay Mac- Donald
and the American Ambassador are bending into shape the intractable difficulties of naval agreement. We have referred in our first leading article to the Prime Minister's statement on this subject and to the consequent importance of avoiding a breakdown at The Hague. His insistence on the theme that it takes not two but many parties to make an agreement in the modern world shows that he is seeing the problem whole. In tackling the technical difficulties of " parity " he and General Dawes are of course following the line which has proved to be that of greatest resistance, but the admitted difficulties which have so far baffled both sides are not a reason for refusing to follow this line. At one time the tendency of American talk suggested that the easiest line would be a recasting of sea law, but the Americans, after all, have preferred to hammer away at parity. Mr. MacDonald therefore has been perfectly right to accept what is at once an invitation and a challenge to his ingenuity.
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