The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-11-13

meetings. throughout the county.
ton of armament? We can no
longer content ourselves with in
designations, with statistics, with
reports, with the decentralization
of inquiry. The essential facts
are sufficiently known The time
h1~ cor1". and this confarn1".. r,nS
been called, not for general reso-
Iut.Vns or mutual adyIve, Dur ~
acton. We meet with full under
standing that the aspirations of
mankind are not to be defeated
either by plausible . suggestions
of postponement or by imprac-
ticable counsels of perfection.
Power and responsibility are here
and the world awaits a practi-
cable program which shall at
once be put into execution
am confident that 1 shall have
your approval in suggesting that
in this matter. as well as in
others before. the conference. 1t is
desirable to follow the course or
procedure which has the best
promise of achievement rather
than one which would facilitate
division: and thus, constantly
aiming to agree so far as possible,
we shall. with each point of
agreement, make il easier to pro-
coed to others.
The question, in relation to ar
mament. which may be regarded
as of primary Importance at this
time, and with which We can deal
most promptly and effectively. is
the limitation of naval arma-
ment. There are certain general
considerations which may be
deemed pertinent to this subject.
Naval Arms Expensive.
The FIRST is that the core OF
the difficulty is to be found in
the competition in naval pro-
grams. and that. in order appro-
priately to limit naval armame mt,
competition in its production
must be abandoned. Competition
will not be remedied by resolves
with respect to the method of its
continuance. One program inev-
itably leads to another, and If
competition continues. its regu-
lation is impracticable. There is
only one adequate way out and
that is to end it now.
1t is apparent that this cannot
be accomplished without serious
sacrifices. Enormous sums have
been expended upon ships under
construction and building pro-
grams which are now under way
cannot be given up without heavy
loss. Yet IL the present construc-
ton of capital ships goes for
ward other ships will inevitably
be built to rival Thorn and this
will lead to still others. Thus
the race will continue so long as
ability to continue lasts. The eff
fort to escape sacrifices is futile.
We must face them or yield our
purpose.
1t is also clear that no one of
the naval powers should be ex-
pected to make these sacrifices
alone. The only hope of limita-
ton of naval armament is by
agreement among the nations
concerned. and this agreement
should be entirely fair and rea-
sOnable in the extent of the sac
rifiCes required of each of the
powers. In considering the basis
of such an agreement, and the
commensurate sacrifices to be re-
quired, it is necessary to have
regard to the existing naval
strength of the great naval pow
ers, including the extent of con-
struction already effected in the
case of ships in process. This
follows from the fact that one
nation is as free to compete as
another, and each may find
grounds for its action. What one
may do another may demand the
opportunity to rival, and we re-
main in the thralI of competitive
effort. l may add that the Amer
lean delegates are advised by
their naval experts that the ton
mage of capital ships may fairly
be taken to measure the relative
strength of navies, as the pro-
vision for auxiliary combatant
craft should sustain a reasonable
relation to the capital ship ton
mage allowed.
1t would also seem to be
vital part of plan for the limi-
tation of naval armament that
there should be a naval holiday.
IL Is proposed that for a period
of not less than ten years there
should be no further construc-
ton of capital ships.
l am happy to say that l am at
liberty to go beyond these gem
eral propositions and, on behalf
of the American delegation acting
under the instructions of the
President of the United States. to
submit to you a concrete prop
osition for an agreement for the
limitation of naval armament.
1t should be added that this
proposal Immediately concerns
the British Empire, Japan, and
the United States. In view of the
extraordinary conditions due TO
the world war affecting the ex-
listing strength of the navies OF
France and Italy it is not
thought to be necessary to dis
cuss at this stage of the pro-
ceedings the tonnage allowance
Of these nations, but the United
States proposes that this mat
ter be reserved for the later con-