The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-14
INSISTS ON FOUR.
President Roosevelt Sends
Special Message to Congress.
: Urging the Building OF Two
Pairs Of Battleships.
AS A PEACE MEASURE.
No Danger That Country Will
Engage i'm Aggressive War.
Necessity Was Emphasized by
Results at the Hague.
AS A PEACE MEASURE.

into what would be not more than q
ten minute speech on the moor VI
congress President Roosevelt TO-DAY
urged that body in a special message
to provide for the construction OF ioui
battleships of the largest and mos'
approved type at once.
The arguments of the president 10 1ifl-
press his insistence on this naval ar1na-
ment were few, but calculated 10 pe
effective. China was held as an exam
pie of the peace at any price doc-
trine, and Great Britain as having the
naval policy to be emulated. The re-
suit of the last The Hague conference
made it plain that the nations would
not for some time. if ever, agree on
plan of limitation of naval armament.
Arbitration, the president holds, can
not be relied upon as an efectlVe rem
edy. 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 presl-
dent made it plain that this country
could i'll afford to relax into pla -
where insult would have to be borne IN
silence.
The text of the message folloWS'
The Message.
To the Senate and House of Represen-
tatives:
Let me again urge upon congress the
need of providing for four battleshlps
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 among
the different nations to limit the IN
crease of naval ornaments, and espec-
tally to limit the size of warships. Un-
der these circumstances l felt that the
construction of one battleship year
would keep our navy up to Its then
positive and relative strength. But act
ual experience showed not merely thar
1t was impossible to obtain such an,
agreement for the limitation OF arma-
ments among the various leading pow
ers. but that there was no likelihood
whatever of obtaining it in the future
within any reasonable time. Coinc1-
dentally with this discovery occurred
radical change in the building OF bat
tleships among the great military ma
stions-a change in which modern bat
tleships have been or are being con-
stracted of a size and armament which
doubles or more probably trebles their
effectiveness. Every other great naval
nation has, or is building a number of
ships of this kind; We have provided
for but two, and therefore the balance
of power is now inclining against u.s.
Under these conditions, to provide for
but one or two battleships a year Is to
provide that this nation, instead of ad-
vancing shall go backwards In naval
rank and relative power among the
great nations. Such a course would be
unwise for us If we fronted merely on
one ocean and it is doubly unwise for
us if we front on two oceans. AS chief
executive of the nation and as COM
mander-in- chief Of the navy, the re-
sponsibility is imposed upon me the
solemn responsibility of advising the
congress of the measures vitality neces-
sary to secure the peace and welfare of
the republic in the event of interna-
tional complications which are even re-
motely possible.
A Peace Measure.
Having in view this solemn respon-
sibility / earnestly advise that the
congress now provide for four battle
ships of the most advanced type. 1
can not too emphatically say that this
is a measure of peace and not of war.
l can conceive of no circumstances
under which this republic would en-
ter into an aggressive war; most GER
tainly, under no circumstances would
1t enter into an aggressive war to ex-
tend it's territory or in any other
manner seek material aggrandize-
ment.
1 advocate that the United States
build a navy commensurate with its
powers and its needs, because 1 feel
that such navy will be the surest
guaranty and safeguard of peace We
are not a military nation. Our army
is so small as to present an almost
absurd contrast to our size. 1t is
properly treated as little more than a
nucleus in case of serious war Yet
ioh no nd 1Af1 ia
wealth invites aggression. The very
liberty of individual speech and ac-
ton which we prize and guard, rem
ders it possible that at times un-
expected causes of friction with for
eign powers may suddenly develop.
At this moment we are negotiating
arbitration treaties with all the other
powers that are willing to enter into
them. These arbitration treaties have
a special usefulness because in the
event of sudden disagreement they
render it morally incumbent upon both
nations to seek firstfo reach an agree
ment through arbitration and at least
secure breathing space during which
the cool judgment of the two nations
involved may get the upper hand over
any momentary outburst of anger
These arbitration treaties are not only
in the hope of ending wrongdoing by
others against us, but also as a proof
that we have no intention of doing
wrong ourselves.
Millennium Far Away.
Yet it is idle to assume, and from
the standpoint of national interest and
honor it is mischievous folly for any
statesman to assume that this world
has yet reached the stage or has come
within measurable distance of the
stage, when a proud nation, Jealous
of its honor and conscious of its great
mission in the world, can be content ro
rely for peace upon the forbearance of
other powers. 1t would be equally
foolish to rely upon each of them pos
sessing at all times and under all cir
cumstances and provocations an al
q