Mr. Walker adds that he holds no brief for the
British Navy, but does • hold a brief for incontrovertible truth. The propaganda against other navies, and notably against Japan and Britain, he says, has been " utterly untruthful," and tends " most dangerously to break down the fine spirit of understanding and co-operation which had grown up." The Geneva failure is attributed definitely by him to propagandists who began their " malicious work " some weeks before the Conference opened and continued to carry it on at Geneva " during the actual sessions." Such statements for and against the new American naval policy are evidently the first shots in a struggle of cardinal political importance. The struggle may change its character entirely ; the stronger may become the weaker. The levies of public opinion have yet to be brought up. Misunderstandings, like that monstrous one that Britain wants to challenge America, have yet to be removed. It must not be forgotten that the present American temper is not related to a panic of defence like that which afflicts France. America is amazingly rich and when she does anything she tries to do it handsomely. " If we have a Navy why not have the best ? " This feeling at least accounts for the parallel movement towards reconstituting the profit- less mercantile marine. It is almost a case of " A pro- tecting Navy implies ships to be protected."
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