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Show uu THE POWERS IN THE PACIFIC. The fact that seems to emerge most clearly from tho consideration of present pres-ent conditions in the Prcific is tho vital mportance of creation of at loast two fresh bases of naval power in that ocean if the 'balance Is to bo maintained. So iong as tho British navy by Its absolute supremacy could bo counted on as a decisive factor in any part of the world where British interests mlcht te involved; the development de-velopment of smaller navies was ULc-ly ULc-ly to proceed on more measured lines. They had no prospect of securing a permanent advantage The situation we have to face, at presont is the Great Britain Is actually occupied in koping a predominance in Euiopean w tors, and unless she makes a supreme su-preme effort she can hardlv hope to do that. Therefore. the ambitions and rivalries which her unquestioned supremacy su-premacy has kept in check must be expected to assert, themselves with augmonted force in non-European waters. Until 1915 she has an agreement agree-ment with Japn which nomlnalh secures se-cures tho status quo in the Far East. As a matter oi tact, the status quo Is altering all the time and not to tho benelit of the British dominions in the Pacific by some means will be urged at our next Imperial coniorence, and Americans must watch the result with considera-blo anxl .ty, for t-e decision must largely affect their own future policy. As a continental self-contained nation they once dreamed of'avold-ing- al! outsit complications either through alliances or disputes, but the whole course of their recent history demonstrates tho futility of such hopes As far as-'the Pacific la concerned, con-cerned, the securitv of the great seaborne sea-borne trade which is bound to develop there would be sufficient to demand the provision of adequate sea power Tho distance between the United States and her markets in Eastern Asia, added to tho fact that her best strategic points (In Hawaii and tho Philippines-) are also a long way from their bases, makes it essential that she should find supp- rt In the Southern South-ern Pacific from a friendly naval power pow-er whose ambitions and Ideals run parallel with her own, Archibald R. Colquhoun. in North American Review. |