The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1927-01-07
TEN CRUISERS OR SECURITY
Friends Peace Committee.

LEN CTSOASEkSS OR SECONAA1
Friends Peace Committee.
zone of the greatest obstacles to
such understanding and sympathy
(between nations) is the fear that
is brought about by competitive
Armaments on land and sea. His
tory has shown that this competition
is one of the conditions most
pregnant in provoking fear followed
by armed hostilities."
Thus the Secretary of State, Frank
B. Kellogg, in his Christmas mes
sage to the people OF the United
States through the New York
Herald-Tribune, pointed out once
more the danger of war that turks in
arms rivalries. Mr.. Kellogg doubt
less recognizes that the sort of
national defense that interests the
American people is the sort that
defends them from the danger of
war
1t is from this point of view that
the citizens of the United States will
consider the proposal to construct
Immediately ten new ten-thousand
ton cruisers This country has a
perfect right to build the cruisers.
The Washington Treaty for the
Limitation of Naval oArmaments,
signed in 1922, does not limit in
any way the number of vessels of
less than ten thousand tons that the
signatory nations may build.
The only restrictions on vessels OF
this size are the self-imposed re-
strictions of economy and policy.
The United States is finally able to
carry out a policy of adequate
national defense. Are the cruisers
part of such policy ?
| After the experience of the World
| War, it has become clear that
military and naval power is at best
only a temporary expedient. Dis
armament is the goal for which all
are working. Disarmament being
difficult for one nation alone, efforts
are being made to find means of
mutual and simultaneous disarm-
ament Military and naval power
can never again give assurance of
security. Modern war, using air
planes and poison gas, makes
the nation that wins suffer almost
as much as the nation that loses.
The only security that satisfies is the
security of lasting peace based on
mutual cOufidnnca
In studying the proposal to build
ten new cruisers, therefore, the
people of the United States will ask,
"Will mutual confidence be in
creased or decreased by building
them %
Preceding events must be taken
into account in answering this ques-
ton. Within the past few months
the United States has practically
declined to cooperate with other
nations in settling disputes peace
fully through the World Court.
Ratification of the treaty proposed
by this country, prohibiting the use
of poison gas in war, has met with
such determined opposition, from
chemical manufacturers and others.
that it has been indefinitely post
poned. Much space has been given
in the newspapers to plans for in
dustrial mobilization for war.
Knowing these things observers
abroad wonder whether the sudden
determination to add ten ten-thous-
and ton cruisers to the American
fleet does not foreshadow some
aggressive stroke on the part of the
United States The history OF the
World War proves that feared
nation is hated nation, and that Q
hated nation is in imminent danger.
Germany's perfect military machine
could not save her from the peril
resulting from the fear aroused by
its very perfection.
Therefore, the American people
ask, is it wise, 1t 1t part of an
effective program Of defense against
war, for thisNs country to undertake
at this time a program of navy
building ?
They remember President Cool
idge's remark at Omaha on Oct. 26,
1925, that sin spite of all the
arguments in favor of great military
forces, no nation ever had an army
large enough to guarantee it against
attack in time of peace, or to insure
it's victory in time of war"