New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-30
Hobson Calls President
and Bryan Obstacles
to Preparedness.
HINTS AT SECRET
DEAL WITH JAPAN
Alabamian Bases Plea for Big.
ger Navy on Menace of
Britain and Toxic.

Washington. Jan. % President viii
son and Secretary Bryan were declared
tonight 10 be "the greatest obstacle IN
tho way OF their country's defence IN a
speech delivered by Representative
Richmond y. Hobson. Democratic
member Of the Naval Affairs Commit
tee, in plea for bigger navy.
Mr. HoDson broadly intima;ed that
the administration had a. understand
ing with Japan. as the price Of peace,
under which this nation would soon re-
lnQuish the Philippine Islands. and
that Japan. as the price Of peace. Will
he given q free hand in China, with the
prospect Of the complete overthrow OF
the open-door policy"
Nr Hobsons speech was replete with
suggestions OF impending trouble with
Great Britain and Japan, and he re-
ferred with misgivngs TO the alliance
between those two countries. Secretary
Daniels heard q part OF the debate al
the night session. but arrived after Mr..
Hobson had spoken
"Thc fact that the Council Of Ma
tional Defence bill is plank in the
Democratic platform seems 20 have no
influence with the administration said
the Alabama member. "This bill would
long since have been q law but for the
opposition of the President and the
Secretary OF State. This opposition 30
The most vital and fundamental meas
ure, similar TO measures that have
been taken by all the other nations OF
the world opposition which keeps
America from making start-consti-
tutes the President and the Secretary
Of State the greatest obstacle of their
country's defence.
81 have felt for some time that our
hsttlcship fleet Will never so 70 the
Pacific Ocean under the present ad-
rninistratiOn. Ny conviction is firm
that, protestations to the contrary
Notwithstanding. peace with Japan has
thus far been secured by the present
administration. and war was Rverted
- the critical juncture 10 which !
have referred by assurances that
America would speedily retire from
the Philippine Islands. I am further
convinced that our first inquiry as TO
the intentions OF Japan in selling
Kiao-Chau and the islands in the Pa
cifc Ocean viii not be followed up.
at least By this administration, and
that Japan, as q price of peace, will
be given a free hand in China, with
the prospect Of the complete overthrow
az the open door policy, leaving China
10 its fate 20 become a governed
nation. while the commerce of Amer
lea. which in cotton goods alone fell
OF over S2O.OOO.00O in Manohuria after
Japanese occupation, will be At the
mercy Of a competitor. while the com
plete overthrow of the balance Of
mower in the Pacific Ocean would lead
10 one inevitable result UT.
"1n determining the movements OF
our battleship feet We cannot escape
leaving one ocean undefended. We may
vest assured that in our negotiations
with England that country has in mind
her alliance, offensive and defensive,
with Japan. knowing that both the jap
ancsc navy and the japanese army
would be available for cooperation
should war result, while in our nego-
tiations with Japan that country viii
bear in mind that tho British feet, or
part Of Il. and possibly the forces Of
other allies, will be available IN the
Atlantic 10 prevent our battle feet
from going 10 the Pacific, insurins
japanese control OF the sea and the