Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1921-01-19
DANIELS FAv0RS
WARSHIPS PACT
Urges Agreement With All Ma.
lions to End Competition
in Naval Building.
READY 70 ADVISE HARDING
Says IL Nations Do Not Reach Agree.
ment Only Alternative Open to
Y. S. 10 to Build Fleet That Will
Command Respect. d

Washington, Jan. 12.-An interna'
tional agreement with all, or prac'
tically all, the nations which viii guar
antee an end OF competition in navy
building was presented as the only
alternative to the building by the Uni
ted States OF a navy powerful enough
ITO command the respect and fear OF
the world by Secretary Daniels IN
testimony before the house naval af-
fairs committee.
The naval secretary, who appeared
before the committee In connection
with Its consideration Of the subject
Of disarmament, dismissed as I'M.
worthy Of discussion, a third proposal
for an American navy less than equal
to the most powerful sea power In the
world .because 1t Is waste OF money
on an agency Of war which would be
helpless II needed
Prepared 10 Advise PresIdent-Etect
In presenting his views, Mr.. Daniels
took occasion to outline the advice
which he would give to President-eiect
Harding, should he be asked for coun-
sci on naval matters. This advice
took the form Of a suggestion that Mr..
Harding, Immediately upon his inaug-
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 1915, the secretary said,
adding that II President Wilson
should call such conference It
would be impossible for him to make
recommendation before his term OF
Office expired"
Work for Reduction o. Armaments.
IF President-elect Harding should
do me the honor to ask my advice"
declared Mr.. Daniels, II would un-
hesitatingly say to him:
If the United States Is not to be-
come at once member of the League
Of Nations 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 conference. You can act on
March s 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.
Opposes "HoIiday" Of Nations.
Characterizing the naval holiday be-
tween the United StDtes, Great Britain
and Japan, provided for In the pend
Ind resolution introduced by Senator
Borah Of Idaho, as halfway" meas
ure, Mr.. Daniels reiterated his OPPOSE
tion to his country's entering into such
an agreement. !,
IA naval holiday for one year or
any period is like applying a poultica
when surgery Is needed" declared the
secretary. "Is little If any better than
the suggested halfway agreement be-
tween the United States and two ma
lions which have a treaty Of alliance
All iiuiitSti w gst tAtC SuLSSb
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:
"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 1t "a serious mistake to fail
to embrace the opportunity for per
manent policy OF reduction by accept
Ing in Its place a substitute in the
form Of terminable and unsatisfae-
tory holiday. The world Is asking for
no playtime, but for serious business.
Il stand today where ! stood in
1913, when was called little navy
man. declared the secretary, '.for
international action or navy second
"a nono In tho uyCrld This ,a,,vtru