The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1921-06-08
u.S,.SH0UL0
NOT DISARM
NOW:WEEKS
Secretary Of War Says It
Would Be Height
of Folly.

New YORK, June S.-Declar1ng
that it would be the height of folly
for the United States to disarm first,
Secretary of War Weeks, in an ad-
dress today to the graduating class
Of New York university, said he
hoped to see this nation prepared
to defend its rights. its sovereignty
and its citizens until the day comes
when all nations by mutual consent
dismantle their fortificaticns and
scrap their navies. The university
conferred upon Secretary Weeks
the honorary degree of Doctor Of
Laws.
Il do not love war;" the secretary
declared, Il abhor it, but conditions
may arise which make it the only
alternative to dishonorable peace.
Then every patriotic citizen wants
war"
War With England Impossible.
Il do not anticipate war;" Mr..
Weeks asserted, but there are ac-
tive and feverish military prepara-
tions among those with whom we
might possibly come in contact. And
/ want to say here and now that l
cannot give a moments serious con-
sideration to the possibility of war
with Great Britain"
Such a conflict, he declared,
would be in his opinion, the end of
civilization.
II am well aware" the secretary
continued, that a great many good
people in this country, indeed in the
world, believe that the time has
come when the world should under
take a general disarmament. l am
entirely in sympathy with every wise
and sane endeavor to bring about
the adoption of a world movement
with that result in view. But we
must remember that the passions OF
war and the disturbances to society
as well as to the individual, cannot
be overcome or forgotten in a day
Only time, and great deal of time
will bring hopeful nations back to q
normal condition. l believe that the
| world is gradually returning to a
state Of mind where, with {. vivid
recollection of the horrors of the
past war, it can take definite action
in bringing about a reduction, il
armament. Under present condi-
! tioEs, however. it would be the
height of folly for the United States
to be the first to disarm.
Nations Must Act Together.
| World wide disarmament mus
come as the result of the interna
tional agreement and must be done
simultaneously.
Secretary Weeks declard the timt
had come when this country mus,
have a definite military policy. Tn.
national defense act, is the poficl
which he thought should govern tn,
army.
! While universal military training
is not possible at this time, he de
clared, voluntary military training
which is provided for in the nation
al defense act, will prove of mater
ial assistance in developing a gen
eral policy of military preparation
The selective service law used b,
the, United States during the Worlt
war served its purpose, Mr.. Week,
said, but he contended that a draf
law Of much broader scope shoult
be adopted il another conflict wer'
to come.
Such law should not only appl.
to those who fight, he said, but t.
every citizen in any activity relatel
to the conduct Of the hostilities
every citizen. within a prescribe'
age should be assigned to the activ
ity for which he is best fitted.
"Time has not lessened the wis
dom Of Washington's advice, Il
time of peace, prepare for war;"