The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1921-02-07
BUT WOULD
WAIT FOR
PRES. HARDING
MondelI Attacked the Pres
ent Executive Depart
ment for Advocacy of III
creased Navy and Army
Forces, Particularly the
Navy Plan of Daniels.

Washington, ID. e., Feb. l.--An inter
national agreement for limitation o.
armaments is absolutely essential tc
the avoidance of bankruptcy by some
of the more important nations of the
world, Representative Mondell of Wyo.
ming, Republican House leader, de,
clared to-day before tine House naval
committee.
If an agreement is not reached in the
near future, he said, the fault will be
that of America as in former days the
fault was that of Germany He added,
however that there was no time to
work out the problem before the change
in administration next month
"The fault will be ours" he assert
ed, because as we are the only great
nation which could maintain enormous
establishments on land and sea with
out bankruptcy, without being con-
demned to bear indefinitely and add to
to-days frightful load of national debt,
il is our duty to lead the way toward
relief from the present and future bur'
dens of warlike expenditures, which,
irksome and oppressive to us, would be
unbearsble to other nations
"More than that, it is our duty to
lead the way, because strangely enough
we are the only great nation that since
the World war has officially taken
position favorable to the increase rath-
or than the decrease of armaments and
warlike expenditures. and the one ma
tion. in which, fear, there is a really
dangerous sentiment in favor of in
creases rather than decreases of mill
tary establishments; a sentiment linn
tied, ii is true, to the number of people
openly avowing it, but a sentiment
nevertheless deeply planted. shrewdly !
calculating and very persistent"
Mr.. Mondell attacked the executive |
departments of the government for
their advocacy of increased naval and |
military forces and assailed particular |
ly Secretary Daniels proposal for
navy second to none.
I'VE have not followed Secretary
Daniels ambitious program" he said /
I'VE shall not follow it, But that pro- |
gram is message that goes out to all /
the world from alleged peace loving, 1
non -militaristic America rs the officia /
announcement OF the administration.
accepted abroad as a mandate to, if not /
an expression of the will and purpose
Of the American people.
ut is true that the government of
Japan. stirred and spurred by the lingo
sentiment Of the minority opposition.
was compelled TO and did make an an
nouneement Of a plan ami program of
naval construction which. while small
compared to ours, was practically i'm
possible Of accomplishment in the con
dition of the industries. the trade and
the finances of the nation. But this re-
mains As yet, in the main. merely an
announcement. diminutive Roland
for our monumental Oliver.
AS to England. her statesmen and
her people have had the good sense 10
decline to be carried off their feet OF
impoverished in their resources BY an
effort 20 initiate or follow the fantastic
program outlined by the administra-
tion.
Il am glad to know that there are
many voices raised in favor Of the
checking of the growth of militarism. ,
II argues well for the future. I have
suspicion. however. that al Of the
voices We have heard raised in favor Of !
agreements are not !
wholly sincere. 7 canno; help being
suspicious Of certain class of people ,
" no fervently urge international agree I
ments for disarmament. Complete dis Z
ornament j. not possible and one of
he most effective ways in which to
lead OF. fhWart. sidetrack and defeat !
-eform movement j. through urging il
IN = mauifcstly impraciicable way.