The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1908-04-28

pressed into what would be not more
than a 10-minute speech on the floor OF
congress, President Roosevelt To-Day
urged that body in a special message
to provide for the construction OF four
battleships OF the largest and most APP
proved type at once.
The arguments of the president TO
impress his insistence on this naval
program we're few, but calculated 10
be effective. China was held up as
an example Of the peace at any price
doctrine, and Great Britain as having
the naval policy to be emulated.
The result of the last Hague con-
ference made it plain that the nations
would not for some time, If ever,
agree on a plan of limitation of naval
armament Arbitration, the president
holds, cannot be relied upon as an et-
fective remedy, though it should be
utilized to it's fullest extent.
Disclaiming any intention on the
part of the United States ever to en-
gage in a war of conquest, the presi-
dent made it plain that this country
could i'll afford to relapse into place
where insult would have to be borne
in silence.
The text of the message follows:
FOUR BATTLESHIPS.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
Let me again urge upon congress the
need of providing for four battleships
of the best and most advanced type at
this session. Prior to the recent Hague
conference it had been my hope that
an agreement could be reached be-
tween the different nations to limit the
! increase of naval ornaments, and es
pecially to limit the size of warships.
! Under these circumstances l felt that
the construction of one battleship a
| year would keep our navy up to it's
then positive and relative strength.
But actual experience showed not mere
| ly that it was impossible to obtain
such an agreement for the limitation
of ornaments among the various lead
! ing powers, but that there was no
| likelihood whatever of obtaining it in
/
Coincidentally with this discovery oc-
Cured a radical change in the building
of battleships among the great mill
tary nations-a change in which it was
apparent modern battleships have been
or are being constructed of size and
probably trebles, their effectiveness.
Every other great naval station has
built or is building a number of ships
of this kind; we have provided for but
two, and therefore the balance of pow
er is now inclinlng against us Under
| these conditions to provide for but one
or two battleships year is to provide
that this nation instead of advancing
| shall go backward in naval rank and
relative power among the great ma
tions. Such a course would be unWise
for us, as we front on two oceans. AS
chief executive of the nation and as
commander in chief of the navy the re-
sponsibility is imposed upon me, the
solemn responsibility of advising the
congress of the measures vitality peces-
sary to secure the peace and welfare of
the republic in the event of interna-
tional complications which are even
remotely possible.
A MEASURE OF PEACE.
Having in view this solemn respon-
sibility, l earnestly advise that the
of the most advanced type. l cannot
too emphatically say that this is a
measure of peace and not of war |
can conceive of no circumstances I'M
der which this republic would enter
into an aggressive war; most certain
ly under no circumstances would It
enter into an aggressive war to extend
its territory or in any other manner
seek material ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
| advocate that the United States
build a navy commensurate with its
powers and its needs, because | feel
that such a navy will be the surest
guaranty and safeguard of peace. we
are not military nation. Our army is
so small as to present an almost alb
surd contrast to our size. 1t is proper,
ly treated as little more than a nucleus
for organization in case of serious war
Yet we are a rich nation and unde'
Tended wealth invites aggression. The
very liberty of individual speech anC
: action which we pride and guard rend
! ers it possible that at times unexpected
:. causes of friction with foreign powers
:. may suddenly develop.
! At this moment we are negotiating
arbitration treaties with all the othe
powers that are willing to enter into
them. These arbitration treaties havt
a special usefulness because in tn,
event of some sudden disagreement
they render it morally incumbent up
on both nations to seek first to reacl
an agreement through arbitration ant
at least secure a breathing space dur
ing which the cool judgment of tn
two nations involved may get the up
per hand over any momentary burs