The sun., 1918-12-31
DANIELS DECLARES
FOR BIGGEST NAVY
Continued from First Page.

may be done.
In view Of the arge number OF
smaller vessels undertaken during the
war which will continue to be con-
structed during the next year It Is not
recommended that the construction of
additional smaller vessels be pressed at
this time. The details concerning them
fcan be taken up subsequently"
MI Daniels then pointed out that In
| the 1915 three year programme the num-
Der OF ships to be built each year was
specified by Congress. He recommended
that this practice be discontinued.
Turning TO the international situation
the Secretary said that IL It was to be
assumed that out OF the peace conference
would come some manner OF body to
which differing nations would submit
their grievaI ces this body should be suf-
| ficiently powerful to force acceptance OF
It's decisions once they are made.
| THE experience Of poor and imperfect
humanity" said the Secretary. has
very fully taught the lesson that power
for the enforcement of judicial decisions
sometimes needs to be considerable; and
back OF that must lie a tremendous 20
lice power of prevention IL judicial de-
cisions are to be made as infrequent as
possible-indeed, IL society Is to exist
at all. Arbitration which has behind
it no power capable Of compelling the
disputants to accept the decisions of
| the arbitrators would have no value
whatsoever in cases of serious emer-
gency."
Such a police force would of necessity
be naval. he pointed out and continued !:
This being true II becomes obvious that
II the United States is to participate In
| such a movement II must participate
upon a scale commensurate with Its
/ NvaNA nj nm
and scientific attachments. Any lesser
participation would be a Sinking of its
duty. A contribution less in cost,
strength on any detair of perfection
than that Of any other member of the
league would be undignified and I'M
worthy OF a nation which by Providence
has been SO generously endowed as the
United States.
II am quite certain that it would be
| improper for America TO consider Il
proposition OF contributing to. the world
police a number OF units smaller than
that contributed by the greatest other
| Power. 1t seems to me that this
obviously the American duty, and that
the other nations of the world would be
justified in regarding US as shirkers II
we failed to accept the burden OF II
cheerfully and turn to the performance
of II with an unexampled earnestness
and high efficiency.
at would be contrary to all our tradi-
lions and all our ideals to assume that
in the planning of new and mighty
navy America could be animated either
by fear or by the intention OF agrees
sion. What IL unhappily the peace con-
ference should fail to como to an agree
ment upon such a plan? Suppose the
Powers do not now agree to curtail arm
ament?
Powerful Navy, Daniels's Answer.
Then it Is entirely obvious to all that
the United states. IL she Is to realize her
| destiny as a leader OF the democratic I'm
pulse. IL she is to play her proper part
| (as hand In hand with her Incompatible
Allies she has played II in this war; in
the protection of small nations. tn epres-
ervation of the freedom of the seas for
| them and for the world at large. must
have a navy that will be as powerful as
that Of any nation in the world.
| ut Is my firm conviction that IL the
conference at Versailles does not result
| in a general agreement to put an end to
| naval building on the part Of all the ma
tons then the United States must bend
her will and bend her energies and must
give her men and give her money to the
task of the creation OF incomparably the
greatest navy in the world.
| "She has no designs upon the territory
or the trade of any other nation or
group of nations, but she Is pledged to
the support of the Monroe Doctrine she
| Is pledged to the protection of the weak
| wherever they may suffer threats: she
is incomparably rich. incomparably
| strong in natural resources; II need be
she must be incomparsbly strong in de-
fence against aggressors and in obese
against evlldoers.
| America is committed to the promise
of entering into a general and genuine
plan for the reduction OF ornaments. II
the outcome of the peace conference shall
be that all nations will concur in this
| idea then the United States will gladly
DIN them in the worthy plan.
| For three years we have been COM
mitted TO such a programme in such cir
cumstances. But IL such an agreement
cannot be arranged then We here IN
America must accept the burden which
the failure automatically will thrust
upon Us and meet II by adding such
safety and aid powerfully in protecting
the peace Of the world"
Expects Armament Limitation.
Secretary Daniels indicated clearly
that he expected limitation OF national
ornaments to result from the Versailles
conference.
Every year since have been Secre-
tary OF the Navy" he said, 81 have
urged an international agreement to end
competitive and costly naval construc-
ton. The day for the realization of that
long cherished idea seems not far dis
tant. We are pledged to cooperate with
other nations to a reduction or arnla-
ment. Unless the nations now agree
upon such conventions as will compel
the settlement of national differences BY
arbitration We will fail to garner the
best fruits of the dearly bought victory
For one l believe the war has taught
us two things: First, that national diff
ferences and greed for power may al
ways endanger the peace of the world
second, that to prevent differences ant
I selfish ambitions from producing another
war there must be constituted a high
tribunal and there must be a world pc.
lice power so strong that no nation will
dare to defy the strength of n decree OF
such an International tribunal"
Secretary Daniels submitted to the
committee a draft of bill to carry Out
the proposed programme. The battle
ships would cost $21,500,000 each. ex-
elusive of armament, the battle cruisers
$23. 100000 each and the scout cruisers
$780, 900 each.
Rider TO stop Construction.
The Secretary proposed to the COM
mittee that the following provision be
inserted In the naval bill:
1T at any time before the construc'