Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-29
Administration May Swing
Full Force Behind Navy
Expansion Plan.
OPPOSITION EXPECTED
FROM PEACE GROUPS
Anti-War Treaty Furnishes Am
munition for Pacifsts-Hale
to Lead Floor Battle.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

Americas two-fisted reply to France
and Great Britain on their naval
limitation understanding foreshadows a
determined effort by the Coolidge ad-
ministration to secure final adoption
of the 15-cruiser program approved by
the House last Winter and now pending
in the Senate
When first heard of, and until the
American reply exposed its true inward
ness. the Franco British agreement was
thought to pave the way to further naval
limitation. AS the United States now
points out, with firmness and frank
mes unusual in diplomatic communica-
tions, the London and Paris govern
mentS have made limitation more re-
mote, instead of bringing 1t nearer. The
language in the American note goes
even beyond that. 1T categorically hints
that Great Britain and France have
worked out scheme which would in
evitably lead to a recrudescence of naval
competition disastrous to national econ
omy"
Expansion Looms.
With no restriction of warship build
ing thus in sight, the duty of the
United States is regarded by the ad-
ministration as plain and inescapable.
Uncle Sam must go on expanding his
Navy along those lines which he con-
siders essential to our security at sea.
A year ago the Navy Department told
the country that 71-ship program
of new cruisers, submarines, destroyers
and aircraft carriers was Indispensable
and President Coolidge recommended
it's enactment by Congress at cost
of more than $700,000,0OO. 1t was the
United States answer to John Bulls
baking of American efforts to secure
cruiser and submarine limitation at
Geneva six or seven months previous.
Due to an unprecedentedly effective
popular opposition engendered by the
churches, wonen's organizations and
pacifist bodies, the House of Representa-
tives whitfield the 71-ship scheme down
to ,15-cruiser program. The project
was sent to the Senate In that form,
but was caught in the end-of-the-ses-
sion filibuster in the Senate, before
which it now lies as unfinished busi-
ness.
May Ask Program.
This writer learns in authoritative
quarters that in view of the Franco
British plans just Scathingly reviewed
and rebuked by the administration, the
latter may recommend the original III.
ship program for the reconsideration OF
pxifi
diplomatic note points out, are for linn
iting the type of cruisers 10000 tons)
which America, with her far-flung over
seas defensive necessities, requires, while
at the same time the British would
themselves remain at liberty to build
unlimitedly the smaller types of cruis-
ers $4,000 to $500 tonS) which John
Bulls navy, with coaling stations all
around the globe, can get along with.
Senator Hale, Republican of Maine,
who has just been triumphantly re
elected, will, as chairman of the Senate
naval affairs committee, have the re-
sponsible task of plotting the 15-cruiser
bill through the upper House. He was
by no means sure he could have doEe
so at the last session, even If the meas
IRE hadn't been filibustered out of the
way. The pacifist lobby openly stated
that, having smashed the 71-ship pro-
gram almost out of recognition, peace
lovers" next duty was to prevent naval
expansion to any extent. Senator Hale
expects to have to face this drive next
Winter.
Stress Peace Pact.
The anti-naval expansionists have
now in hand talking point they lacked
while opposing the administrations
plans at the preceding session. Since
then the world at large has joined in
the Kellogg treaty to outlaw war. There
are already indications that the treaty
will be exploited to the limit. as all
argument against further American eX-
penditure on naval defense. Friends of
adequate preparedness at sea recognize
that they must make ready to justify
the cruiser program against the plea
that as the nations have "renounced
war as an instrument of policy" men-of-
war have become correspondingly un-
necessary.
Before the 1928 presidential cam
paign is over the naval issue may be
prominently injected into it. Herbert
Hoover in his speech of acceptance
stoutly espoused a strong American
fleet, insisting that while the United
States Graves peace it must also be re
spected" Gov. Smiths speech~of ac-
ceptance and subsequent utterances
have been wholly silent on the naval
question.
(Copyright 1927