The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1908-01-12

In the same room and addressing prac-
ticaIly the same audience that recently
listened to Hon. Richmond Pearson Hob
sons speech on Americas need for a
greater navy. Mr.. Edwin d. Mead, former
editor Of the New England Magazine, and
recently delegate TO the Peace Confer
ence at The Hague. said last night that
a greater armament for this country is
nonsense.
His address was delivered before the
University Club, and treated OF the uni
versal and historical significance that has
and will be attributed TO the recent con-
ference of The Hague tribunal Mr..
Mead's talk touched upon the current
rumors relating TO the attitude Of Japan
TO the United States. He said he was
surprised to read in an account Of Justice
Harlan's speech that the venerable jurist
had declared a greater navy was neces-
sary for the United States to maintain its
position, and that no such thing as friend
ship between nations existed.
RidieuIes statements.
The speaker declared these statements
were untrue: that as far as labor goes.
al! nations were fraternal; that scholars
were internationally fraternal and that
the United States was becoming more and
more fraternal as its commerce increased.
Referring to Justice Harlan's remark
that Europe's respect for Us depends
upon our physical power, our ability in
creating navies and armies, Mr.. Mead
said:
THE whole history and spirit Of the
recent Haugue conference contradicted
f. Mr. Choate and his colleagues gained
respect and influence in proportion 20 the
power and responsibility Of their aTgu-
meats, which. happily, were great
To show that greater navies are not
necessary TO preserve weak nations from
other countries, he said:
AT The Hague many small nations IN
many things exercised an influence
greater than many stronger nations.
Mr. Mead is OF the opinion that large
navies are "humbugs,' and are more Of a
provOcation than a defense.
THE peace movement he said. rs
passing through the same phase in this
decade as the anti-slavery movement
passed through from 1880 until 1850, II
the United States received no other bene-
nightmare, and the hair-spltting discus
sions relating to the Monroe doctrine. and
the collection of debts by European ma
tons. it would have been amply re-
WaTded.
No Chance fer War.
As to the press discussion Of war be
tween this country and Japan, Mr., Mead
said:
There are no strained relations be-
tween the United States and Japan. This
talk and agitation is insanity. II such a
condition exists. why not DO as the peace
advocates did in Germany and England
when there were rumOTs Of strained rela-
tons Let us send to Japan a delegation
OF 100 journalists of our leading newspa-
pers and have that country send a dele
CATION Of its leading members Of the
press and leading men, to this country
and let them study the condition Of af-
fairs as they really exist
The founders OF this government"
continued the speaker, were men who
were averse TO war. and did all they
could 20 do away with war. It is for
Us to see that their ideas are carried
out, not lost. Such principles as these
and not cries Of impending peril can
make the United States potent
After explaining the demands made
upon the nations of the world by The
Hague tribunal Mr. Mead concluded
as follows:
Our Secretary of State in his address
before the peace conference in New York
in 1904 delivered the greatest speech
ever heard-better even than the late
John Hay. In that address Nj Root
brought out plainly the necessity Of an
organized judicial peace throughout the
world. and also advocated that all ma
tons be limited in armament. This is eX-
actly what is being urged by The Hague
neach conference.