The Washington herald., 1908-02-16
Naval and Colonial Expansion.


John w. Foster. the veteran diplomat
voices a sound objection 10 the extraor-
dinary Increase IN the naval establish
ment asked for by the administration
when he says: Il am aware Of no change
in our foreign relations which calls for
such increase" Nor is any one else able
10 detect any change. immediate or pros
pective, in our foreign relations that
points to the probability Of aggression
that viii have TO be resisted by force Of
arms. In fact, all the indications point
the other way AT no time in human
history have the forces for peace been so
active or so powerful Not only DO Hague
conferences and international peace meet
ings endeavOr 10 minimize The causes of
war, but emperors, presidents, and kings
vie with each other in the preservation
of the worlds peace. No role so becomes
the British ruler as that OF composing
European differences. The war lord of
Germany resents the imputation that he
is a menace 20 his neighbors, and views
with pride his peaceful reign.
The foreign affairs of our own country
are in the hands Of a statesman whose
whole aim is to be AT amity with all ma
ti0ns. He has conducted a difficult busi-
ness with Japan 20 a point where sue
cessful conclusion may be predicated with
safety. and all known facts respect
ing our relations with that empire. with
which our jingoes are bound we shall
have war sooner or later, tend TO prove
that Japan has not the remotest intention
of picking a quarrel with us. For com
mercial reasons, il for no other, she can
not afford TO war with the American peo-
pie. Where else is there the slightest sign
of an international complication? Yet
our naval programme. as prepared at
the Navy Department. il authorized by
Congress. would set in motion an almost
feyerish preparation for war. without any
apparent reason.
If our naval policy We're an essentially
American policy. and not modelled after
that OF European nations we would find
ourselves amply protected by a navy
of derate size and reasonable annual
cost. We no more require a big navy for
the defense of our mainland than we do
pose. But unfortunately for a really Ameri-
can naval policy. We have the Philippines
To defend and they are bat a few hun
dred miles from rising and ambitious
military power. II We had no Oriental
colony, war with Japan would be all but
physically impossible. Fighting at long
range, as Justice Brewer said the other
night. is a terribly expensive thing. and
no nation would jump Al d chance TO
fight us on our own ground. The Philip
pines, however. are our weak spot. and if
war should come in the Orient, the poin.
Of attack would be 1900 miles away from
our mainland By the acquisition Of
those Islands we greatly diminished our
natural military strength, to recoup which
it is now felt necessary 10 augment our
natal power in Pacific waters
Our colonial and naval expansion are.
in reality. cause and effect. The cost of
our bigger navy is the price we are pay
ing for the Philippine adventure-an ex-
pensive investment which a great many
Of our statesmen would be glad to unload
If they knew how. Our navy will never
be big enough If, in addition to holding
distant colonies. we enter on the foolish
policy Of keeping pace with the size Of
foreign nayies. Both our colonial and
naval policies mark complete break
with the traditions Of the past. and one
that should not be lightly regarded by
the thoughtful American.