El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-05-07

CECRETARY Of the navy Josephus Daniels has proved
y himself adept at word building as wen as al navy
building Quite diplomatist he IS as revealed by ms
statement at luncheon in London last Thursday
M Daniels declared that the United states hao no
desire to possess such sea strength as "oua eApe y -
impose its DEGREES arbitrarily upon IIee peoplss
hearers received this sentiment with much Satisfaction
With human tendency to give personal application 20
eTal statements, they construed the secretays
to mean that the United States had intention OF trying
to rival the British empire power How else could
there be danger Of the United States imposing It's oecee
arbitrarily upon free people such as the British:
American naval secretary added that the prospeo-
tive development Of foreign commerce and sea carry
ing the obligations that might be imposed Dy
the league Of nations made It imperative however hat
until general disarmament adopted no dlnuuon OF
our naval strength could be ordered
He asserted furthermore that If, unfortunately the
evolution Of league Of nations could not be such its
friends hoped and if coTroary, competition IN anna
ents should continue then would be essential from the
dictates Of elementary self interest," that the American
people should @bud and maintain fleet commensurate
with the needs Of national defence and international obi
what the British evidently thought M Daniels said
was substantially this:
I'VE have intention ever Of developing fleet as
powerful that Of British neghbors, nor VIII such
fleet as be used for aggression but shall
have to have Of fleet until It is determined
whether not disarmament is feasible in order to pro
tect ourselves"
This has been hailed generally in England and also in
parts Of the United States indicative Of change
heart part M Daniels 1t has been regarded
evidence that he would not make navy irwin
chile he has heretofore suggested, but would merely
make It large enough to give good account Of itself and
deter other powers rom headlong decisions to infringe
the rights Of the Uniled States.
In short Mr.. Danels's statement to the English has
been regarded aboutface from his declaration last
January before the house committee naval affairs when
he said that general agreement reached to limit
competition in shipbuding and to limit ornaments this
country must bend its VIII and energies and must give its
money TO the task Of creating ncoparably the greatest
navy IN the world"
nasmueh" he added, "as the country is incomparaby
1ch and incomparaby strong IN natural resources It must
need be, show ncoparaby strong in defence against
aggression and in offence against evil doers"
"Incoparahly" is not word Of subordination. It is
superlatTe. An ncomparaby strong navy does
navy weaker than the British It means navy more
complete stronger and better IN all essentials than any
other nations
So MT Daniels's statement construed IN England
and doubtless It did much inspire dstrustul comment
the assumed intention Of the United States to be-
come the leading power Of the world In any event.
the question Of renewing the old in warshp construc
ton seriously moOted.
Winston Churchill who first lord Of the admiralty
when Great Britain entered the war IN 1914 and who
showed himself quite much disciple Of preparedness
as Mr. Daniels has been made Of his Characteristic
speeches He insisted that every by which Great
Brtans existence empire federation Of common
wealths could be assured must be employed nasuch as
that existence floats from hour to hour upon our naval
defence that naval defence overpowered OF out
matched by any other navy probable combination of
nsves we should not merely hold possessions but our
lives and liberties only sufferance"
Somewhat later comes report Of Great Brtains final