The Irish standard., 1908-04-18
SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS
ASKS ACTION ON PRoPosl.
TloN IMMEDIATELY,
DEGREES POLICY OF
PEACE At ANY COST
-Four Men-of.War Are Advocated bv
RooseveIt-china Is Held Up az
an Example-says Other Nations
Are strengthening.

OWMNAAE VI AouA U0IIECSlAp6s ~ Wd6
about 5000 words In length. Follow
ing is the message in part:
TO the Senate and House of Repre-.
sentatives: s.%
Let me again urge upon the con-
gress the need of providing for four
baktleships of the best and most ad-
vanced type at this session. Prior to
the recent Hague conference 1t 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 warships. Under these cir
cumstances felt that the construc.
tion of one battleship a year would
keep our navy up to its then positive
and relative strength. But actual ex-
perience showed not merely that 1t
was impossible to obtain such an
agreement for the Limitation of arm
aments among the various leading
lihood whatever Of obtaining it in the
future within any reasonable time.
Radical Changes Observed.
Coincidentally with this discovery
incurred a radical change in the build
ing Of battleships among the great
military nations-a change in accord
ance with which the most modern bat
tleships have been or are being con-
structed 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 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 course would be unwise
for lis if we fronted merely on one
ocean. and it is doubly unwise when:
we front on two oceans. AS chief
executive of the nation, and as COM
mander-in-chief Of the navy, there is
imposed upon me the solemn RESPONSE
bility of advising the congress of the
measures vitality necessary to secure
the peace and welfare of the republic
in the event of international compli-
cations which are even remotely pos
sible.
Wants Four BattIeshlps.
Having in view this solemn re-
sponsibility. earnestly advise that
the congress now provide four battle.
ships of the most advanced type.
cannot too emphatically say that this
is measure of peace and not of war
can conceive of no circumstances
under 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 aggrandizement ad-
vocate that the United States build a
navy commensurate with it's powers
and it's needs, because feel that such
a navy will be the surest guaranty and
saeguard of peace. We are not a
military nation. Our army is so small
as to present an almost absurd con-
trast to our size. 1t is properly treat
ed as little more than nucleus for Or
ganization in case of serious war. Yet
we are rich nation, and undefended
wealth invites aggression. The very
liberty Of individual speech and action,
which we SO prize and guard, renders
It possible that at times unexpected
causes Of friction with foreign powers
may suddenly develop. At this mo-
ment we are negotiating arbitration
treaties with all the other great pow.
ers that are willing to enter into them
These arbitration treaties have spe-
cial usefulness because in the event Of
some sudden disagreement they rem
der it morally incumbent upon both
nations to seek first to reach an agree
ment through arbitration and at least
secure breathing space.
Sets for His War Ideas.
During this the cool judgment of the
two nations involved may get the up
per hand over any momentary burst
Of anger. These arbitration treaties
are entered into not only with the
hope of preventing wrongdoing by
others against us, but also as proof
that we have no intention Of doing
wrong ourselves.
Yet 1t 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, jeal-
Gus of it's honor and conscious of it's
great mission in the world, can be
content to rely for peace upon the for
bearance Of other powers. It would
be equally foolish to rely upon each Of
them possessing at all times and
under all circumstances and provoca-
tions an altruistic regard for the
rights of others. Those who hold
this view are blind to all that has
gone on before their eyes in the world
at large. They are blind to what has
happened in China, in Turkey, in the