The Washington times., 1921-06-08
u. s. BEHIND.
in RACE To
ARM, WARNS.
.SECRE AIRY
Future Ominous, He Confesses,
Pleading for Rational
Policy of Defense.

NEW YORK, June S.-Asserting
that there are feverish military
preparations among nations with
whom the United States might
come in contset,' Secretary Of War
John w. Weeks, in an address here
today, strongly urged the adoption
of a rational military policy which
would enable us to avoid the costly
blunders of the past.
FOLLY TO DIsARM.
Speaking at the commencement
exercises of New York UNIVERSITY.
the Secretary pointed out that ex-
panding populations made II inevita-
BILE that some nations should covet
rich territories, and declared 1t would
be the height of folly for the United
States to consider disarmament under
present conditions
I'VE are practically the only strong
nation in the world which has not
some time in its history engaged in
warfare as result of selfish and
unworthy motives or desires" the
Secretary said. with possibly one
exception, we have never taken un-
fair advantage OF other nations; i'm
deed, in establishing the Monroe
Doctrine America voluntarily as
sumed the obligation of protecting
the smaller nations of this hemi-
sphere
HAS HAD 1I0 WARS.
Though in no sense a military ma
tion, the Secretary said, the United
States has nevertheless been engaged
in 110 wars, campaigns or military
expeditions during the 145 years Of its
existence, and has been involved in
major wars for one-sixth of the
whole period of its existence.
'The past is history-the future.
mystery" said Secretary Weeks. ''1t
would be folly to let our hopes for
the future blind our eyes to the facts
of the past. History demonstrates
that this world, since its very crea-
ton, has revolvtd in a cycle In
which peace ends in war, just as
war in turn ends in peace. While
1 want to see our country lead in
every proper means to bring about
an understanding between the ma
tions of the world which will en-
sure the world against another war,
I hope to see II prepared to defend
its rights, its sovereignty, and its
citizens until the day comes, IL II
ever does, when all nations by
mutual consent dismantle their forth
fications and scrap their navies"
Worldwide disarmament must
come as the result OF an interna-
tional agreement and must be exc
cuted simultaneously, he declared,
as prudence would not permit our
disarming while others hold wea-
pons in their hands
Though thorough believer In
preparedness, Mr.. Weeks insisted
he was not solicitous that the
United States maintain the largest
military or naval force in the world.
sCOPPs AT WAR WITH ENGLAND.
Il want to say here and now
he continued, that cannot give
a moments consideration to the
possibility of war with Great Brit
ain. We have lived more than a
hundred years with an unprotected
border line of more than three thou
sand miles between the United
States and Canada and there has
never been the slightest friction
between these two countries. In my
opinion, a war between Great Brit
ain and the United States would be
the end OF civilization, and whatever
may be the folly OF the leaders in
either OF both nations, the peoples
of Great Britain and the United
States would never unprecedented.
they would not permit--a contest
between these two countries
The Secretary expressed his per-
sonal belief in universal military
training, but said he realized the
people OF the United States were not
/ vet ready to accept IT, He also crit
iSized the selectlve service law. as
scrting that Il should have hees
made to apply not only to thos~ WHO