The New York herald., 1921-08-20

would not consider having a navy sec
ond TO that of anv other nation. i can.
not see any objection to that
AT the same time 1 believe we should
Jake the same position, that the Ameri-
can navy should be second to none in
the world. do not see that this is All
unfair position for the United States to
take.
Whatever agreement Is reached
should be with the consideration of
great many factors. such as coast line
to protect. the amount of commerce de-
pendent on American fighting ships, the
population of the United States and the
American possessions. national wealth
and the like
Must Not BE Left Open to Attack,
Senator New Ind.). member Of the
Military Affairs and Foreign Relations
committees. said:
THE New YORK HERALD hits the
nail squarely on the head in saving
that nothing can be done in the way
OF curtailing our national armament
unless such an agreement Is general
or course we should strive to cut down
the expense that Is possible to cut. but
II is not safe to reduce to such an extent
where we would lay ourselves open to
attack
1T is fortunate thing that those who
VIII sit at the conference table realize
that this is the situation 1t is fortu-
nate ha we will no be led into a situa-
ton Of insecurity by a group Of fam
atics"
Senator Stanley (Ky.) said: The
NEW YORK HERALD editorial Is SQUAD.
1t should be realized that whatever is
done should be done in concert with the
other ne fkn yIy a
avoid getting into militaristic state OF
mind. but we must consider our naticaal
safety"
Senator Mccormick (Ill), rieinDer of
the Foreign Relations Committee. said /:
we have high hopes that the Wash
ington conference will result in a sharp
limitation of armaments. No informed
person presumes that the nations viii
agree to disarm. willing though they
may be TO reduce their armed forces and
to limit them by protocol of convention
To-day France and Poland maintain
the vastest armies, a million ard a half
men between them. The measure in
which they, and especially in which
France, will agree to reduce their forces
will largely determine the outcome CT
the conference"
Theodore Roosevelt Assistant Secre-
tary Of the Navy. said: II agree with
the main conclusions OF THE New York
HERALD editorial. or course we all favor
limitation of armament to the greatest
possible degree consonant with national
safety and In accordance with whatever
agreements may be reached at the No
vember conference in Washington. But
there Is danger In assuming the ap-
preaching conference is to usher in the
millennium and bring about situation
which will enable the nations to scrap
their weapons OF defence.
1T would be the height OF folly for
the American people to anticipate they
are no longer to bear a certain burden
Of taxation for the maintenance OF arm
ament The approaching conference aims
to limit armament in accordance with
n general agreement and this limitation
should be general and not individual.
The time has not arrived when this
country or any other can undertake to
become dcfenceless In an armed world.
There Is no doubt the American dele
gates to the conference will have these
facts in mind and the safety OF the
United States will not be imperlled by
uuixotic action's