Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1921-01-14
WARSH|PS PACT Or
BIGGEST u. s. NAVY
Secretary Daniels Says a Mere
Holiday Is Not Enough.
WOULD END NAVAL BUILDING
Urges Agreement With All Nations Or
Construction of Fleet That Would
Command the Respect Of
the World.

jail
tional agreement with all, or prac-
tically all, the nations which Will guar
antee an end of competition in navy
building was presented as the only
alternative to the building by the lhi-
ted States of navy powerful enough
'sto command the respect ana rear Oh
the world" by Secretary Danlefs IN
testimony before the house naval az
fairs committee.
The naval secretary, who appeared
before the committee in connection
with it's consideration of the subject
of disarmament, dismissed as IN
worthy of discussion. d third proposal
for an American navy less than equal
to the most powerful sea power in the
world because it is waste OF money
on an agency of war which would be
helpless if needed"
Prepared to Advise President-Elect.
In presenting his views, Mr.. Daniels
took occasion to outline the advice
which he would give to President-elect
Harding, should he be asked Tor coun-
sci on naval matters. This advice
took the form of a suggestion that Mr..
Harding, Immediately upon his lnaug-
uration. invite the nations of the world
to meet with the representatives OF
the United States in disarmament
conference. Authority for such action
was given by the naval appropria-
ton act of 1916, the> secretary said,
adding that if President Wilson
9"should call such conference 1t
would be impossible for him to make
recommendation before his term of
Office expired"
Work for Reduction of Armaments.
IF President-elect Harding should
do me the honor to ask my advice"
declared Mr.. Daniels, Il would un-
hesitatingly say to him:
eff the United States is not to be-
come at once member of the League
of Nations 1 believe some plan should
be adopted at once to secure an agree
ment for a reduction of ornaments.
You will have the authority to call
such a conference. You can act on
March 5 and hasten the coming of
the day when the taxpayers Of this
country and of all other countries may
be safely freed from the great bur-
dens of war preparations. Until that
conference secures word agreement,
let there be no cessation in building
the ships authorized by congress. Z
Opposes "HoIiday" of Nations.
Characterizing the naval holiday be-
tween the United States, Great Britain
and japan, provided for in the pend
ind resolution introduced by Senator
Borah of Idaho, as a halfway meas
ure, Mr.. Daniels reiterated his opposi-
ton to his country's entering into such
an agreement.
"a naval holiday for one year or
any period is like applying poultice.
when surgery is needed" declared the
secretary. rs little if1any PETER than
the suggested halfway agreement be-
tween the United States and two ma
tons which have treaty of alliance.
An alliance limited to the United
States, Great Britain and Japan would
make for suspicion and distrust and
would be followed later by a counter
entente of nations jealous of what
they regard as an Anglo-Saxon and
Japanese alliance to dictate to the
world"
End Competitive Naval Building.
Mr.. Daniels added:
1.-THE only wise course is to end
competitive naval building, not for
one year or five years and not by
few nations, but for all time by all
nations. The time is ripe for securing
such an agreement now, and | would
consider it a serious mistake to fail
to embrace the opportunity for per-
manent policy Of reduction by accept
ing in its place substitute in the
form of a terminable and unsatisfac-
tory holiday. The world is asking for
no playtime, but for serious business.
II stand today where stood in
1913, when / was called Aittle navy
man," declared the secretary, ''for
international action or navy second
to none in the world. This country
would demean itself by advocating
a navy second to any nation on
earth"