4. 41
. We have watched with interest the public discussions in the Naval Affairs Committee, as reported here, with the earnest deputations from religious bodies, women and business men. It seemed inevitable that the proposals would be modified from the extravagant heights originally proposed as attainable. We could not suppose that the vast tonnage that was called for could appeal strongly to the American imagination except very superficially. We were certain that the vast cost made far too strong an appeal to the American pocket, deep as it is. After all the man with a full pocket is often the man who is most careful not to empty it unless he sees that he will get something that he really believes will be of value to him. If this Programme is what the States believe that they need, let them be assured that we shall not criticize their opinion here. We have had, since the War, to measure our cruiser fleet by the size of the ocean and the needs that the ocean imposes on the fleet. We have given up measuring by other people's fleets, two-power standards and so on. And though we may hope for another Naval LimitatiOn Conference, we have ceased since the last one to con- centrate even upon a one-power standard such as we thought might prevail after the Washington Conference.
