South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-02-24
THE U. s. NAVAL CONTROVERSY.


Controversy over the United States nav. and IN
fact the navies the whole world-with the rest OF
the world insisting that lead rather than par
ucipate in disarma ment programs-s one OF the
after-naths Of udiation Of the League Of Ma
lions. It is controversy that viii probably stay
with until We have either gone in or come 10
sort OF understanding. The controversy is go
ing to be scarcely less international than inter-
national and the prospects are that Of hereto
fore antiDreparedne critics-critics for political
enect,-wilI be caught chewing their words
1t is announced that after inauguration Pres't
Harding viii initiate and take part in an interna-
tonal conference general world disarmament.
England with a navy that will be much stronger
than ours even when present building program
is completed. frankly desires US take the lead
in cutting down.
Japan. with navy more than half as strong as
and with all Of it concentrated in the Pacific
says she cannot consider disarming until Uncle Sam
begins the process.
All this means few weeks hence poll
tcians will be calling each other names. Passionate
appeal will be made the hand pocket
book nerves Of the tax-payer-on the other hand
10 such of the lingo spirit sNleft in after the
war. Facts may be lost sight Of Probably they will
be lost sight of Washington unless the American
people a whole are sufficiently well informed and
sufficiently concerned insist their being recog
nzed.
These considerations have moved The News
Times to ecure one of the best corresr ondents in
the country particularly study and write about
the Emitted States navy during the next few weeks.
How does it compare with the English navy?
How with the japanese navy?
How does our building program compare with
the progrem Of these countries?
submarine development?
What would we do and how would we do it in
Of another great war breaking out--a war in
which perhaps England could not help US.
Each American citizen must know the answer to
questions of this If he is fairly to judge his
servants in the government for acting refusing
to act with foreign statesmen in their immediate
plans for disarmament
The News-Times has no AK to grind In this mat
We believe in saving the peoples tax money
whenever it is possible and wherever it Is safe TO
save it. And it is obvious that it is the actual
size and expensiveness Of our navy that counts
Its relative strength and efficiency that of other
naves. There is just one world condition that we
recognize and one general principle we believe in
We must recognize that the close Of the world
coupled with the failure of the United States
thus far to keep faith with the allied countries
by senatorial and popular Reputation of the Paris
treaty,-has not made the launching of another
great impossible, even improbable In conse-
quence believe that both patriotism and pru-
dence demanding that the Of
other this country should be in a position at
least take of itself without being dependent
On help from any other country whatever
That is additionally good American policy. 1t Is
also good common od-fashoned horse sense. Before
the attempt is made TO rush the American people
into any disarmament program they should be fully
informed and they should very carefully consider
whether the abandonment of this principle Of IN
dependence is involved
Steps toward disarmament are to be welcomed
But for America any such step not be a step
in the dark.