Evening star., 1929-12-19
NAVY DEPARTMENT
REVIEWS POLICIES
Presidential Quotations Are
Compiled to Support
Defense Needs.

Naval policies of the United States
as expressed by Presidents since the
Washington conference Of 1922 were
outlined in compilation by the Navy
Department, given out for publication
yesterday.
The data was gathered it was ex-
planned for reference.
Beginning with President Harding's
declaration in 1923 that "the world has
deliberately acknowledged the right
eousnesS of our flrst-rank position,
the digest quoted also his reference to
the Navy as "OuT first line of defense" "
1.-The armed shield bearer upon which
we depend to ward off the war which
We mean in our hearts never to pro-
woke" and the right arm OF the De-
partment of State"
Want No Weakness"
From 10 public references by Presl-
dent Coolidge to the Navy, the digest
quoted his annual message of 1928,
which said that the personnel OF the
Army and Navy had been decreased
ITO the danger point" and that further
reductions should not be made.
We want no more war" the Digest
quoted. But we want no weakness that
invites imposition. A people who neg
lect their National defense are putting
in jeopardy their national honor"
A call for limitation was recalled in
a quotation from COolidge's message to
the Sixty-ninth Congress at the
opening of its second session, de-
claring that the offer Of the United
States to disarm was still pending, and
that Americas continuance to be armed
"is not as a menace, but rather a COM
mon assurance Of tranquility to all the
peace-loving people of the world" To
do any less. the President said, would
be to disregard obligations, evade re-
sponsibilities and 'jeOpardize our ma
tional honor"
President Coolidge's next message to
Congress expressed the Nays needs for
submarines. airplane carriers. and "a
material addition to it's force OF cruisers"
"OId World Policy Ended"
"This country has put away the Old
World policy of competitive arma-
n1entS," Mr.. Coolidge said at this time.
In his next message he repeated that
the Navy was deficient in cruisers,
adding that the building program then
contemplated lin the Seventieth Con-
gress) was to meet national defense
needs. He contended this country was
neither militaristic nor imperialistic."
In his Memorial day speech In 1927, the
OlSeSI SHOWED, PRESIDENT COOnQge said
there were still "evil forces" in the
world. which all past experience warned
would break out from time to time
unless We are prepared to meet such
situations with armed intervention"
On ArmiStice day, 1928, President
Colidge repeated that defense did not
show aggressiveneSs the digest recalled,
adding, I'VE can have military prepara-
tion without assuming a military spirit.
In this message Mr.. Coolidge referred
to the failure of the Geneva conference,
saying it appeared that the tonnage
considered constituted an extension Of
war fleets.
"QuOte Hoover Twice"
The two references to the Navy by
President Hoover included one while
he was Commerce Secretary: That an
efficieHt Navy would be necessary, even
though we had no problems Of national
defense" The other Hoover pro-
nouncement quoted said he had mo
faith in the reduction of armaments
by example alone" and that proper
defense required military strength "rela-
tive to that of other nations" This
speech, last Armistice day, averred the
United States would reduce naval
strength "in proportion to any other