Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-01-31
COOLIDGE SPEECH
NAVY ROW CLIMAX
Significance Seen in His De.
parture From Custom to
Discuss Preparedness.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Coolidge's speech at the
semi-annual meeting of the executive
officers of the Government was a sig
nificant address. not merely because
Mr.. Coolidge departed from custom
and discussed military preparedness in
relation to Government expenditure,
but because it marked the climax of
controversy which has been smolder-
ing ever since Congress convened.
Mr.. Coolidge, through Gen. Lord, d.
rector OF the budget. has been cutting
down military and naval expenditures
Although military and naval officers
are prohibited from influencing Con-
gress on the matter OF appropriations,
the situation has been so Unanswered
that there has arisen in Congress a
distinct current of unfriendliness to
the Presidents viewpoint and a
marked friendliness to that Of the mill
tary and naval men.
Policy Flagrantly Thwarted.
Mr.. Coolidge has been fighting to
prevent excessive expenditure all
along the line, but in no instance has
his policy been 40 fiagrantly thwarted
as in the matter of an enlarged naval
building policy.
The President realizes that senti-
ment for larger Navy can be trans
lated into action the moment COM
PARSONS are made with what other
countries are doing. That is why he
has let ii be known that he favors
another conference on Limitation of
armament, and hopes Congress will
not appropriate for the three addi-
tional cruisers until he has sounded
out other governments and made ar
rangements for a conference.
Mr.. Coolidge will enter such a con-
ference with the argument that his
own legislative body is eager to
resume the competition in armament,
and that the power and resources OF
the United States are adequate to
revive competition, II that Ia what the
various governments think Is newt
able. For, once the principle Of COM
petitive armament IL renewed, the
President knows that there are other
inequalities as between American
naval strength and that of other
countries which would have to be
corrected.
Holds People Favor Economy.
Mr.. Coolidge feels that the. spirit of
AhACIACd lOudy ldNOFS economy ana
reduction rather than an increase in
armament. The recommendations of
the director of the budget on military
and naval expense are much more In
line with what the President desires to
do from an economy standpoint than
the suggestions of the two depart
ments of national defense. But while
there has been little said about 1t. the
man In the War and Navy Depart
ment have looked askance at the
tendency to reduce. especially since
other governments have not kept pace
with the principle of reduction.
Mr.. Coolidge's discussion OF what
Is adequate preparedness Is not ac-
ceptable to the military and naval
group because there Ia no definite
agreement among world powers for
everybody to reduce. The President is
compelled. therefore. to move toward
an international conference on arma-
ment reduction much more rapidly
than had been anticipated
II the President can get Congress to
postpone appropriations on the extra
cruisers this time, he will not be able
to secure another postponement In the
next session of Congress, which be-
gins In December unless definite steps
have been taken for another agree.
ment on tn limitation Of further naval
armament.
Copyright. 1927