Evening star., 1928-05-19
URGES CRUISERS
AS AID TO PEACE
Hale Tells Senate u. S. LagS
Behind Britain and Japan
in Building.

Showing that Great Britain and
Japan have gone ahead actively with
naval building program since the
Washington conference In 1922 and that
the United States is far behind the
5-5-3 ratio of naval strength. estab-
lished at that conference. Senator Hale.
chairman OF the naval affairs COM
nittee, pleaded with the Senate yes
terday afternoon to pass the pending
bill for the construction Of additional
cruisers.
Not to put through this building pro-
gram, Senator Hale told the Senate.
would be TO injure the United States
Navy further and 70 give further
leverage 20 the pacfEasts within the
United States and the enemies without.
The United states. he said. stood for
naval limitation, as indicated at the
time of the washington conference,
when this country made great Sacri-
fees Of its capital ship strength But
he insisted that unless this country
clearly demonstrates 10 the other ma
tions that 1t stands ready to build
naval vessels sufficient to keep IL abreast
of any other navy, there is little chance
OF any program Of further international
limitation going through.
"The argument Is often made" said
Senator Hale. that If We do not build
ships other countries win not The re-
verse has proved to be the case.
Other Nations Building.
while we have practically stood still
the other naval nations have all gone
ahead with big programs OF modern
construction. In my opinion. IN no
other way than by showing the other
nations In no uncertain way that we
will not allow them TO outbuild uS can
we force them to give up their race Tor
competitive armament. We have
proved once in the washington confer
ence that we can force q cutting down
OF armament II we have force that
they can not hope to equal. We can
do it again II we viii show definitely
that however much they may build we
do not intend to allow ourselves TO be
outtiistanced.
"But by shilly-shailying along and
letting our Navy drop behind we cease
to be a factor In the situation. With
something to offer we put through the
washington conference. With nothing
to offer the Geneva conference came TO
naught.
"Our aggregate wealth is greater than
that OF any other half dozen nations
In the world combined. Our foreign
commerce, Is increasing by leaps and
bounds We are the acknowledged
money center of the world, BY every
precept In history We could properly
arrogatc TO ourselves the right to the
control Of the seas for the protection
OF our vast possessions and our expands
ing commerce. No one could gainSay
iis should we see mt so TO 90, put we
do not see fit so to do. We are peace
full nation. wanting peace ana tne pene-
fits Of peace. All that we desire Is
Navy equal to that of any other power
in the world, that will give security to
our country and protection TO our citi-
Gems and our interests at home and
abroad. Such Navy will insure protec-
ton in war time and In peace time TO
the American merchant marine. And
let me say here that just as you can"
not maintain strong merchant marine
without an adequate Navy TO protect u,
so YOU cannot maintain strong navy
without an adequate merchant marine
to administer TO the needs OF the meet
when operating away from It's nome
bases.
Interests Are for Peace.
"The interests and aims Of the people
of these United States are oil for peace.
our every effort In the councils OF the
world win be TO maintain a condition OF
world peace. Our nfiuence In the
councils OF the world Is based on our
financial position. our military strength,
and the power that we have TO enforce
any position that We may take. To
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