Evening star., 1919-03-16
For Diplomatic Effect Only.

For Diplomatic Effect Only.
The controversy which has arisen
over the proposal to double the,
Navy building program is neces-
Sarily an academic one in view of
the impossibility of practically
carrying it out or beginning to
carry it out for some years to
come. In other words, as has been
suggested. in view of the physical
limitations of our shipbuilding re-
sources. the double program can
be nothing but a mere paper plan
for diplomatic effect. A report
= that was published in the United
States as representing the views
of our peace delegation, that if
England did not agree with the
views of America as to naval pol
icy we could build a larger Navy
than that of Great Britain, had the
distinct tone of threat, and caus-
ed a more or less disagreeable SEN
sation at a time when the allied
nations were endeavoring to har-
monize the great issues of the war.
vi CoulSo, L fdHCc anu 1IedI
Britain are fully advised of the
actual situation, and any attempt
to use our naval building program
for trading purposes or for coer-
cion in the peace congress is bound
to fail of it's purpose.
Great Britain has announced that
she will not discuss the abandon
nf har on6 that
she will never consider giving up
her navy, which is at once the
foundation of her liberties and the
chain that binds together the far
flung elements of her empire.
If all the great nations can in
conference arrange program OF
Limitation of armaments and carry
it out, on basis of relative
strength to be agreed upon by
each, it would be desirable. BUT
the power and discretion in the
matter cannot be transferred to a
league of nations. It is too vital
to our existence as a nation to be
delegated. No such program can
be carried out without the free and
Independent approval of our people
and our government. If it is to
be carried out no league of nations
is necessary. for that purpose. A
conference Of the powers and a
ratification Of their program by
the several powers is all. that is
necessary. Until that is done,
however. it can have no effect on
our naval policy. and the possibil-
ity of such a plan must necessarily
include every naval power without
exception.
Bulwark of Independence.
The Navy. is the bulwark OF our
independence. While the end of
the war will call for the modifica-
ton and change Of number of
our naval activities, it should not
cause a days delay or intermission
in the increase of our fundamental
naval strength. There will be a
reduction of the Navy personnel
from its war status, but even in
the matter Of personnel while the
active list will be reduced, care
SnOuIO O0 IdhSA " 70 ohN
establish a new, where necessary,
Navy personnel reserve upon
which we can draw in time OF
emergency. The best reservoir
from which to draw the Navy man
power when necessity shall call
for It Is the mercantile marine,
and so, from the standpoint of the
Navy as well as from the develop
ment Of our foreign trade. it is
important to encourage an Ameri-
can merchant marine. Another
basis of Navy man power is our
fisheries. The hardy men who go
down to the sea in our fishing
fleets and those who learn its ways
and the fundamental requirements
of a nautical sailor life in our
merchant ships make the readiest
and in many respects the best ma
terial for manning our ships of
war. There are a thousand rea-
sons in the beginning of this new
era Of our national life for the
building up Of a great merchant
marine and the encouragement of