Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-04-05
Given Information in Regard to
Building Argentina Ships.
SENT BY KNOX AND MEYER
Secretaries Of State and Navy De-
fend Their Action.
PROMOTES TRADE RELATIONS
Allowing This Governments Plans
to Go Into Foreign Battleships
Good Move, They Say.

In compliance with a resolution adopted
by the Senate at its last session. calling
for information concerning the part
played by the State and Navy depart
ments in obtaining from the Argentine
Republic contracts for the building OF
two battleships in private American
yards, replies were sent to the Senate to-
day by Secretary Knox and Secretary
Meyer. Both of these cabinet officials
defended their course in permitting the
use in the foreign ships Of confidential
plans Of the dreadnought type Of vessels
now being built for this government and
secret devices embraced in armament.
The responsibility Of justifying the ac-
ton of this government chiefly fell to the
Secretary Of the Navy, but Secretary of
State Knox In his answer said that the
action Of administration officials was in
accord with the policy Of the act of 1909,
under which the Department Of State was
reorganized. and the purpose OF which
was the extension Of American trade re-
lations.
In pursuance Of this policy. he said.
the American minister to Argentina was
instructed to use his best endeavors to
the two battleships in this country. Re
ferring to the voluminous character OF
the correspondence, Mr.. Know said that
it had not been deemed compatible with
the public interests to furnish it.
Could Not Publish Correspondence.
ITO publish correspondence affecting
the Argentine Republic would do violence
to that delicacy and to that courteous
consideration called for by the amenities
Of international intercourse" said Mr.
Knox.
Secretary Meyers reply says that the
patents on the plans to be used IN this
Of the United States Further, he de-
clares that this country will benefit great
ly by the exchange of naval construction
with other countries. He says
that such exchange Is q common prac-
tice in European countries Thus to en-
courage private shipbuilding concerns in
this country. the Secretary contends,
will increase our available resources in
time OF war or threatened war. while
tige.'
The two Argentine battleships which
are being built at private shipyards here
are partly from plans which this govern
ment has adopted for the construction Of
for which appropriations were made only
last session.
For the information furnished the
United States reserved the right to pur-
case they were to be sold at any time
Argentina was to consider
the plans confidential.
Reports to Be Printed.
At the request of Senator La Toilette
the reports Of the two cabinet officers
were ordered printed. The correspondence
is voluminous and makes specific reply
to the many inquiries of the resolution.
Including the information sent to the
Senate was a list giving plans Of guns,
gun mounts and other appliances per-
tanning to the armament Of battleships,
which were communicated to the ArRen-
tine Republic.
The list contains three Of the general
plans Of the proposed battleships New
York and Texas, which were authorized
by the last Congress.
Plans Of the fire-control system have
not been disclosed, but It Is the intention
OF the Navy Department to permit the
use Of that system in the vessels being
con r. at Quincy; Mass. and Cam
TT was apparent" said Secretary
Meyer. that il the American Compel
itors In the shipbuilding trade were to
oner bids upon footing Of equality with
their foreign rivals 1t was essential that
they receive from their government the
same assistance and support as that
which the great ordnance manufacturers
Of Europe obtain from their governments.
Acting Chief Of Ordnance Capt. Irv-
ing Chambers commended 1t to be to the
best interests of the government to
encourage the private establishments
of this country in obtaining foreign
orders for the building Of ships and
the manufacture Of war material. es
pecially from those countries affected
by the Monroe doctrine.