The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-11-13
KEEPING UP
With
THE NEWS
BY LUDWELL DENNY

BY LUDWELL DENNY
Copyright, scripps-Howard Newspapers.
1929
XXTASHINGTON, Nov. 1S.-Noth-
Wv ing can stop the cruiser
building program now-not even the
Kellogg peace pact. This is the
Washington lowdown, following
President Coolidge's Armistice day
address.
The big navy group is pleased,
and the peace societies are. worried.
Both sides recognize that the Cool
idge statement of the world situa-
ton regarding armament and peace
practically assures passage of the
construction bill, which comes before
the senate next month. That bill,
which passed the house last session,
provides for fifteen new cruisers
and one aircraft carrier.
Navy advocates are so pleased
with the foundation laid by the
President that they are wondering
whether they dare revert to the
original seventy one-ship program
presented to congress by Secretary
of Navy Wilbur last spring.
At that time, peace societies were
successful in starting the most pow
erful barrage of protests from the
country which White House and
congressional officials ever had seen.
{
was willing to compromise on q
sixteen-ship bill in the house, ap-
parently feeling fortunate in salvag-
ing anything from the protest bar
rage. Peace organizations continued
to press their initial advantage and,
aided by the usual last-minute rush
of legislative business, were able TO
postpone senate consideration of the
compromise naval bill
Il Il
MYTH the signature of the
w Kellogg pact, by which this
government joins with most of the
nations Of the world in renouncing
war "aS an instrument of national
policy" navy officials feared and
peace organizations believed that
treaty could be used to kill the COM
promise naval bill in the senate.
American peace societies were
given another weapon against the
senate bill, when the British govern
ment, partly in response to agita-
ton of British peace organizations.
postponed its plan for building two
new cruisers.
President Coolidge apparently had
sided against the navy department
and with the peace societies. on the
ground that more naval expendi-
lures would jeopardize the admin
istration economy program and
also injure chances of a successful
arms limitation conference.
But it now is clear that Coolidge
has Topped back on the big navy
side as a result of the so-called
secret" French military and
naval alliance" The curtness of
the recent state department note
rejecting the Anglo French pro-
posals to limit American type large
cruisers without limiting types used
by Britain and France, now is
butressed by the frank language of
the Presidents Armistice day adj
dress.
TINE attitude Of the Washington
l. government, which is believed
to be shared by Presidential
Hoover, is that il has given Great
Britain repeated opportunities to
limit cruisers on an equality basis,
and on the basis of Britain's re-
peated refusal to grant such parity
the United States now will build
as rapidly as possible to reach or
possibly exceed British strength,
Discussing the disparity between
the two navies, the President said:
when their (British) present
legislation is carried out they
would have siXty-eight cruisers.
When ours is carried out, we would
have forty. 1t is obvious that,
eliminating all competition, world
standards Of defense require us to
have more cruisers"
To the argument that a new
naval building program violates the
whole spirit and purpose of the
Kellogg outlawry of war treaty, the
big navy advocates will repeat the
Coolidge dictum that the treaty
leaves the questions of defense and
disarmament practically where
they were"
The first test of strength between
the navy and peace forces, when
the senate meets, will be over posi-
ton. The navy will try to get
action on the construction bill be-
fore the Kellogg pact is presented
for ratification. Opponents of naval
increase will try to get action first
on the treaty, and then use such
ratification as an argument against
the cruiser bill.