New-York tribune., 1921-02-20
Disarnln Only if
World Disarl1ls.
Says Woodbury.
assistant Navy Secretary Tells
Republican Leaders u. S.
Should Follow Equality
Program for Several Years
Narburg Defends League
Billiard Holds Reduction
Trick to Gain Advantage
or Pass Buck to Posteritv

armament TO the point of comparative
rsssness, while ve 1--we in world Of
Nc nsyies, can never seriously be con-
.idered by the United States, Gordon
Woodbury., Assistant Secretary Of the
Navy, yesterday told members of the
National Republican Club at the week
y luncheon Of the organization in its
suarters, "a West Fortieth Street.
Varied opinions on the subject of
disarmament and it's accomplishment
through agreement among the Allied
5owers were expressed by the speak
srs, who included Admiral William
sovden Sims, U. s. n; Major General
Robert Lee Bullard, U. S, A.; Theo-
dcro Marburg, former United States
Minister to Belgium; Chaplain William
L. Sullivan, and Frank 1. Cobb, editor
Of The New York World.
Mr.. Woodbury. said the country's
srsseut naval policy of maintaining
equality with the greatest should con-
true unless some mutual agreement
10 the contrary can be reached "be-
,veen ourselves and probable enemies
at sea-
Proposes Joining League
Entrance into the League Of Nations
0, taking advantage of the law of 1916,
sushorizing the President to call con-
ference upon reduction in armament,
we're two solutions suggested by Mr..
Woodbury..
I'VE are now spending 80 cents out
81 every dollar of our income in pay
ments due on account of former wars,
or f. preparation for wars to come"
said ne speaker. eve can probably
eoy 4inue to do this if we choose. But
sdom forces US to the conclusion
tst we should not, if we possibly can
agoid doing so.
an the meantime, however, until the
terms Of the reduction in armament
shall have been in some way agreed
rpon, we cannot safely abandon
policy OF continuous preparation for
var at sea, unless all probable enemies
10 so first"
Asserting that ornaments invite war,
Nr. Marburg, who is president OF the
American Society fox the judicial Set
tlement of international Disputes, said
,he League of Nations is the door
through which TO enter upon a success
ful campaign against ornaments.
One Policy Left Open
@If that privilege is TO be denied u.s."
he continued, 1.-The duty next IN order
is to cooperate with the committee of
tie forty-eight sister nations, despite
tts fact we are not a member Of their
ague. Finally, if not even this SEN
sble course is to be allowed us, let
is then adopt the suggestion of call
ng an armament conference all our
own.
"The world wants the mad craze
Etopped and will not quarrel over the
Instrument. The convention certainly
would agree to declare naval holi-
day at least, and that is something
gained. The United States is in
position to influence powerfully the
worlds decision on this question. Eu-
rope needs commercial credits to put
aer on her feet, and we could justly
make reduction of armament q con-
diton in extending help"
Disarmament, reduction or limita-
ton would not obviate war, in the
apinion of Major General Billiard It
would be only q trick to gain or main
ain an advantage by another nation.
Peace Born of Righteousness
such a policy would merely mean
PASSING the buck to our children" he
AID Peace comes only through JUS
lice and righteousness, not through
glsarmament, which spells 8 country's
laferority."
With any advanced nation, disarma-
Nent is deliberate laying aside of
us superiority. If we had had dis
armament few years before the bat
ae Of Manila Spain would have been
~ well armed as we. The fight would
laSe been even and the result uncer-
AN We might have VOL it.
Looking at it now from a purely
aHerican viewpoint, disarmament for
70 would mean the abandonment Of
Ouf hnanclal superiority over the other
aatons OF the earth. Are we willing
y ABANDON it, TO put ourselves on
sye with others? That would be
aanine kindness.
In the scuffIe of war the mask of
.apfeparedness was dashed off and we
seeOgnlzed and cursed pacihsm as our
HOposition of disarmament is in effect
Rproposa! to Os to return TO pacifism.
puflng the war, in consequence of
~ Iong preceding neglect of military
Sss'lhg' we We're brought under Brit
N pIotectorate. 1t was nothing else.
va rss BRITISH with their armed forces
Nv .sOa between US and the enemy while
BE, we're trying to get ready TO fight.
tp.,'s tseves KIND and considerate that pro-
'''sSte might be, do we want it back?
49, doesn't Prevent War
v..t otsaarmament alone does not pre-
Ma, var. Unarmed or armed, the peo-
rsaI .sYe . been continually at war. The
mar. 'sason ia tor our desiring disarma-
eSs,. q the nope of either avoiding the
;tsS,wes war or avoiding the trouble of
pfevsss Disarmament in the past has
4g5 p'egented." ~ N' Wv
ssrsra ssrstareaness was the keynote Of the |
iar aiAa .h OF Admiral Sims, who, sketch |
il n. tbs success of experiments tried |
Cfxti". ssse war, advocated the consid- !
h .n ts of other new ideas, particular !
tc,asSss advanced by the sponsors of |
agalnss ssd ana bombing aerial craft as
sTSs tne capital -Aip.
Salss. navy is useless institution /
SINS ~, ~ Is prepared" said Admiral |
The a;rr,aahy things are claimed for /
sayy s.ane; was,a If claims could do it the /
"a xio oSio be destroyed. These ideas /
worthy of Investigation and test,
ANA, war WAS declared nearly all /
as,;neah naval officers said the sub |
Iaejr Nv was no good, and pointed out
lssls new weapon that comes up is /
y H. WI