Evening star., 1925-05-13
STAND UNCERTAIN
ON ARM|ST|CE DAY
President, However, Feels
Occasion One for Peace
and Not Military.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge'S diSinclination
to sanction a military defense test on
Armistice day because peace advo-
Gates feel that occasion should be re-
served for the cause of peace is a
significant outcropping of the under
lying controversy relative to national
defense, which was to some extent
aired in the last presidential cam
paign.
The War Department then, as now,
took the initiative, but the President
felt bound last year to accept the War
Departments recommendation because
special day-September 12-was set
aside, though there is reason now TO
believe that he was not as whole
heartedly in favor of nation wide
holiday or cessation of business as
was made to appear at the time.
When the War Department finally
conducted the defense test in the face
of opposition from certain peace ad-
vocates who felt such a move would
be misconstrued abroad as a bellig-
erent attitude or at least a return TO
militariZation, the peace advocates
decided to counteract the effect of the
| September IL celebration by mani
festation of peace sentiment on
Armistice day, November IL.
War Department Attitude.
To get ahead of the so-called "paci.
fists" the War Department, realizing
| that Armistice day was much more
| likely to be observed as a holiday
| than any special date in September
urged that November IL be chosen
| for the exhibition of military
strength.
The President has not yet made up
his mind about the matter, but his
| first thought is not favorable. He feels
hot Ict; 40 hoe al, Ixrh hnn
| dedicated to the cause of peace, or
| rather to thoughts of that kind rather
than to military defense. He has re-
| ceived kilograms arguing against a
| military display on Armistice day, but
he also has had brought to his atten-
| tion the fact that there is no direct
| provision of law for a military dis.
| play, and that it is largely the volun.
| tary act of the several States. II il is
to be an annual affair. therefore, Mr.
Coolidge would like Congress to indi-
| cate that it is an approved observ-
ance. and if public money is to be
spent it should be appropriated in the
/ customary way.
| The President doesn't feel that he
should make a request of the States
| to spend money for the military
| defense test. If, however. the States
wish the Federal Government to par.
| ticipate or coordinate the affair, Mr.
Coolidge will lend the cooperation OF
! the Federal Government to any ex
| tent desired.
| Coolidge Stand Disappointing.
| Naturally, Mr.. Coolidge's attitude is
a disappointment to those in the War
| Department who felt they should use
the military defense test as a means
of arousing national sentiment OF
preparedness. They also have sought
to counteract growth of pacifisn1
which might lead to a reduction OF
armament beyond the point consistent
with public safety.
| The issue is not merely one of q
single Defense day test. 1t goes deep
er. 1t is whether in times of peace
| there should be mobilization of the
citizenry of the Nation and military
weapons. Many of the peace advo
Gates say they have no objection tt
the customary drills and tests to make
| more efficient instrumentalities at the
disposal of the Nation, but they dc
object to the emphasis given to the
use of physical force in world which
is struggling to apply moral force
and the rule of reason. This doctrine
doesn't sit well on those advocate.
of preparedness who insist that peace
will never be attained except by DO
tential physical force properly trained
| Copyright, 1929