The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1919-06-03
KEEP THE NAVY STRONG.

insist upon the execution of the prepostorousy large
val program fathered by Secretary Daniels and appro
by the late democratic house of representatives at the
behest of the administration The legislators without
gard party reluctant approve that program and
the majority did only after cabegram was sent by
President Wilson, which asserted that failure pass the
hill would be fatal to his undertakings whatever they
The cabegram made public so that the
public still in the dark concerning the nature of the
undertakings which hinged upon the adoption of gigan
tic naval program with string to it. Since Secretary
Daniels has now withdrawn his demand for the program,
is reasonable suppose that the Presidents under
takngs have been successful The country and Congress
can now calmly consider naval affairs by themselves and
not as an adjunct to secret diplomacy.
Does the United States wish discard naval increase
altogether in view of the project for creating league of
nations? Is it wise for the United States adopt radi
cal policy of naval curtaimen without making that
other nations doing likewise? Will the world be so
impressed by Americas action that the nations will vol
unfairly quit building navies?
The hope devouty and eoquently voiced by Pres
den Wilson at the graves of American soldiers in France
the hope of all honorable menthat shall be no
more Is it, or can it be anything than hope? Mr.,
Wilson foudly believes so, through the creation of
league that shall bind the nations together under the
troll of council of nine individuals representing many
nations The council would consist of American, an
Engishman, Frenchman, Italian, Japanese Bel
gan a Brazilian, Greek and Spaniard. These gentle
men would hive their headquarters at Geneva Switzerland
he Of reS
pecve governments but whether the President of the
United States would go Geneva to attend the meetings
of the council would depend partly the whm of the
individual at that time occupying the executive chair If
the world should be disturbed frequently it has been
in the past the council would be compelled to sit almost
constantly hence an American President would be com
PEELED to forego the pleasure and duty of attending the
sessions unless he could deputize to perform his
duty of executing the laws of the United States
Unless the President of the United States could per-
sonay attend the Geneva council meetings. it is difficult
to understand how the council could take control of war
or threat of war in this hemisphere situation like that
which brewing in Mexico could not be handled from
Washington under the Monroe doctrine and from Geneva
under the league council at the time If Mexico
should deliberately stir up dispute with the United States
the league council would be compelled to take cognizance
and control of the dispute abdcate its powers in favor
the United States under the article which declares that
the covenant shall affect the validity of regional un
derstandings like the Monroe doctrine The Monroe doc
trne is not regional understanding" Another article
of the covenant provides that any threat of
whether Immediately affecting any of the members of the
league not hereby declared matter of concern to
the whole league and the league shall take action that
may be deemed wise and eecua safeguard the peace
of nations" Let the advocates of the league reconcile
this with the integrity of the Monroe doctrine if they
The hope that shall be more and the prospect
THAT war shall cease two widely separated propos
itions. Fighting going in at least seventeen dis
tnct places in the world despite the solemn warning of
the peace conference that this fighting must stop The
Paris conference either has not the power the concerted
will to stop these small wars If this conference, which
actually of the combined power of the nations
victorious Germany cannot agree upon the exercise
Of power what could be expected from league council
nedged about with written limitations?
Prudence demands that the United States should moi
1a in the development of strong navy There may be
millennium and the lion and lamb among nations may
lie down together That time, however, is not here
Americans are not inconsistent when they strive foI
and yet prepare for Trust in God but keep
your powder dry was the council of dcvout Christ
Washington Post
"The treaty would sentence the German people to slav