The San Francisco call., 1908-04-15
FIRST CLASS NAVY
TO insure PEACE
President Tells Congress That
Four BattIeships Are
Needed This Year

WASHINGTON. April 14.-Com-
pressed into what would be not more
than 10 minute speech on the floor of
congress, President Roosevelt today
urged that body in a special message
70 provide for the construction of four
batteships Of the largest and most ap-
proved type at once.
The arguments OF the president to
impress his insistence on this naval
program were few, but calculated to
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 ef-
fective remedy, though it should be
utilized TO its fullest extent.
Disolsiming any intention on the
part Of the United States ever to en-
gage in war of conquest, the presi-
dent made il plain that this country
could i'll AFFORD to relapse into a place
where insult would have to be borne
In silence.
The text Of the message follows:
-FOUR BATTLESHIPS
To the Senate and House Of Representatives:
. Let me again urge upon congress the need OF
providing FOR four battleships Of the best and
most advanced type at this session. Prior 10 the
recent Hague conference II had been my hope
that an agreement could be reached between the
different nations TO limit the increase OF naval
: ornaments, and especially TO limit the size Of
. WsTShips. Under these circumstances ! felt that
the construction Of one batleship year would
/ keep our navy up TO its then positive and rela-
. merely that il was impossible TO obtain such ar
agreement for the limitation Of armaments among
ne ne various leading powers but that there was no
likelihood whatever OF obtaining It in the future
WITHIN any reasonable time Coincidentally with
this discovery occurred radical change IN the
ouAolng OF batteships among the great military
netions-a change in which ii apparent mod
ern batteships Nve been being con-
: EfEucted OF a size and armament which doubles
OF more probably trebles, their effectiveness
Livery other great naval nation has built Is
pullolng number OF ships OF this kind we have
provided for but two. and therefore the balance
o. power IS now inclining against Us. Under
these conditions 10 provide for but one or two
instead Of advancing shall go backward IN naval
rank and relative power among the great nations
such course would be unwise for US If we
lronted merely on one ocean, and II is doubly
unwise for u.s. front two oceans. AS
chief executive OF the nation and as commander
IN chief OF the navy the responsibility is i'm
posed upon me, the solemn responsibility Of ad-
Tising the congress Of the measures vitality
necessary TO secure the peace and welfare Of
the republic in the event Of internal tional COM
plicatiOns which remotely possible.
A MEASURE OF PEACE
Having in view this solemn responsibility, 1
earnestly advise that the congress now provide
Tour battleships OF the most advanced type.
cannot too emphatically say that this is a meas
d tlre OF peace and not Of war can conceive OF
enter into an aggressive war; most certainly uu-
Ger no circumstances would IT enter into an ag-
gressiFe war 10 extend its territory or IN any
: other manner seek material aggrandizement
/ advocate that the United States build navy
cause feel that such navy VIII be the surest
guaranty and safeguard OF peace. We are not q
military nation Our army is so small TO pre-
sent an almost sbsurde contrast TO size. It
Is properly treated little more than a nucleus
for organization IN OF serious war. Yet we
are G rich nation and undefended wealth invites
aggression. The very liberty Of individual speech
an action which we pride and guard renders IL
possible that ar times unexpected causes of fric-
ton with foreign powers may suddenly develop.
At this moment we are negotiating arbitra-
ton treaties with all the other powers that
bitrstion treaties have q special usefulness be-
cause IN the event Of some sudden disagree
both nations TO seek first to reach an agree
uent through arbitration and az least secure a
breathing space during which the cool Judg-
ment Of the two nations involved may get
the upper hand over any momentsry burst of
anger. These arbitration treaties are not only
for the purpose OF ending wrong doing by others
egainst us but also as a proof that we have
no intention OF doing wrong ourselves. Yet IL
Is idle to assume and from the standpoint
Gus folly for ANY statesman TO assume that
this world has yet reached the stage or has
! when a proud nation, jealous Of It's honor and
conscious Of its great mission in the world, can
.bearance OF other powers 1t would be equally
foolish TO rely upon each Of them possessing
proEocstions an sltruistic regard for the rights
Of others. Those who hold this view are blind
indeed 70 all that has gone before their
eyes in the world at large.
; CHINA AN EXAMPLE
They are blind to what has happened in
China, IN Turkey, in the Spanish possessions.
IN Central and South Africa, during the last
4 dozen years. For centuries China has cult
waited the very spirit which own peace al
any price men wish this country TO adopt For
centuries China has refused to provide mill
; soldier as inferior IN honor and regard 10 the
career OF the merchant OF Of the man OF
letters. There never has been large an
! empire which for 50 long time has reluctantly
! proceeded on the theory Of doing away with
what is called ''militarism."
Whether the result has been happy In IN
fernai Affairs. I need not discuss All the ad
l.Tanced refOrmers and far sighted patriots In
/ the Chinese ministry are at present seeking
: IL may add. with hearty good will) fol
. a radical and far reaching reform in internal
( ansirs- In external affairs the policy has
isresulted in various other nations now holding
large portions Of Chinese territory. while there
4 Is very acute fear in China lest the EN-
: psre, because Of It's defenselessness, be ex
: posed TO absolute dismemberment and its wei
| Wishers are able 70 help II only in a small
unless that other can help itself.
The state department Is continually appealed
: tiona1ities who insist that they are suffering
! from oppression-now Jews in country now
J Christians in another, black men said
p 70 be oppressed by white men in Africa. Ar
menians, Koreans, Finhfs Poles. representa-.
tives Of all. appeal attimes to this government.
All OF this oppression is alleged TO exist in
time OF peace, and frequently, although by nc
, means always. II Is alleged 10 occur at the
hands OF people who are not very formidable IN
s military sense. In some cases the accuse tions
Of oppression and wrong doing doubtless III
founded. In Others they well founded, and
: IN certain the most appalling loss of life
fs shown TO have occurred accompanied by
frightful cruelty. 1t Is not province TO de
eide which side has been right and which has
been wrong in all or In any OF these controver
sizes ] am now referring 10 the loss OF life.
PEACE WORSE THAN WAR
1T Is probably conservative statement 10 say
that within the last u years, at periods Of pro-
found peace and not as a result of massa-
.cres and butcheries have occurred in which more
lives OF men, women and children have been lost
than IN any single great war since the close OF
the Sapoleonic Struggles. To any public man
who knows the complaints continually made "a
the state department there is an element of grim
tragedy IN the claim that the time has gone by