Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
PRESIDENT PLEADS
FOR WORLD PEACE
Hope for Disarmament Is
Keynote of Memorial
Day Address.
Continued from First Page }

ters Of the worlds history
There is a great hope, for since this
day a year ago a solemn declaration
has been proposed by America 10 the
world and has been signed by 40 ma
tions 1t states that they.
"Solsmnly declare In the names of
their respective peoples that they con-
denim recourse to war for the solution
of international controversies. and re-
nounce it as an instrument Of national
policy in their relations With one an
other"
Springs From Hearts Of AL"
They
Agree that the settlement or solu-
ton Of all disputes or conflicts Of what
ever nature or Of whatever origin they
may be. which may arise among them.
shall never be sought except by PACING
means
That is declaration that springs from
the aspirations and hearts Of men and
women throughout the world II is a
solemn covenant to which the great ma
tions of the world have bound them
selves
But notwithstanding this assurance.
preparedness for war still advances
steadily In every land. AS result the
pessin1ist calls this covenant pious ex-
preston Of foreign ofices. trick NJ
statesmen on the hopes Of humanity
for which We and other nations will be
held responsible without reserve. With
this view / cannot agree.
But, II this agreement is to fulfill its
high purpose, We and other nations
must accept its consequences We must
clothe faith and idealisn with action,
That action must march with the In
exorable tread Of common sense and
realism to accomplishment.
If this declaration really represents
the aspirations Of peoples; If this cove
nsnt be genuine proof that the world
has renourced war as an instrument Of
national policy. 1t means at once Of
abandonment Of the aggressive use OF
arms by every signatory nation and be-
comes a sincere declaration that all
armament hereafter shall be used only
for defense. Consequently, If We are
honest we must reconsider our own
naval armament and the ornaments of
the world in the light Of their defensive
and not their aggressive use. Our Navy
Is the first and in the world sense the
only important. factor in our national
preparedness It Is a powerful part OF
the arms Of the world.
To make ready for defense Is a pri-
mary obligation upon every statesman
and adequate preparedness Is an as
surence against aggression. But. If
We are to earnestly predicate our views
upon remuneration Of war as an In
strument Of national policy, If we are TO
set standards that naval strength is
purely for defense and not for agrees
sion then the strength In fighting ships
required by nations is but relative TO
that Of other powers. All nations as
sent to this-that defensive needs Of
nations concede our contention for
parity.
With these principles before US. our
problem is to secure agreement among
nations that We shall march together
toward reductions in naval equipment.
Despite the declarations Of the Kel-
loeg pact. every important country has
since the signing Of that agreement
been engaged in Strengthening It's
tide Of competitive building. Fear and
suspicion disappear but slowly from the
world. Democra cies can only b. led to
undertake the burdens Of increasing
naval construction by continued appeal
TO fear, by constant envisaglrg of pos
sible, conflict, by stimulated trf1aginings
Of national dangers, by glorifcation of
war. Fear and suspicion will never
slacken unless We can halt competitive
construction Of arms. They will Iiever
disappear unless We can turn this tide
toward actual reduction.
"Yardstick" Must Be Found.
But to arrive at any agreement
through which We can. marching in
company with cur brother nations,
secure reduction Of armament, we must
md rational yardstick with which to
make reasonable comparisons Of their
naval units with ours and thus main
tain an agreed relatively So far the
world has failed 10 f1nd such a yard
stick. To say that such a measure
cannot be found Is the counsel OF
despair it is a challenge to the naval
authorities of the world, It Is the
sisyphean toll Of competitive arma-
fnent.
The present administration Of the
United States has undertaken to APP
proach this vital problem with a new
program We feel that It Is useless fol
us TO talk of the limitation Of arms II
such limitations are to be set so high
as virtually to be an Indictment to
increase armament. The idea Of lirnI-
tation Of arms has served useful pur.
pose. It made possible conferences In
which the facts about national aspira.
tons could be discussed frankly in ar
atmosphere Of friendliness and con.
Citation. Likewise the facts of tbs
technical problems involved and the
relative values Of varying national need:
have been clarified by patient COM
psrison Of expert opinions
But still the net result has been tbs
building Of more fighting ships There.
fore we believe the time has come vf1er
We must know whether the pact W.
have signed is real, whether we are
condemned TO further and more exten.
stve programs of naval construction
Limitation upward is not our goal, but
actual reduction of existing commit.
r11ents to lowered levels.
Such a program. II II be achieved
S fraught with endless blessings. The
smaller the armed force of the world
the less will armed force be left in the
minds Of men as en- instrument Of ma.
tional policy. The smaller the armed
forces Of the world, the less will be the
number Of men withdrawn from tbs
creative and productive labors Thu.
ne shall relieve the toilers Of the ma.
tons Of the deadening burden Of un.
productive expenditures and above all
we shall deliver them from the creates
breathe an feared OF poison, Of de-
structive thought and Of potential war
Spirit Should Be In Keeping"
But the pact that ne have signed b,
which ne renounce war as an instru
n1ent Of national policy, by which "
agree 10 settle all conflicts. Of whateve
nature, by pacific means, implies NOR
than the reduction Of arms 10 basi
of simple defense. It implies that IA
tions will conduct their daily inter
course in keeping With the spirit o
that agreement II implies that v,
shall endeavor TO develop those instru
n1entalities Of peaceful adjustment tina
will enable us TO remove disputes fror
the field OF emotion TO the field OF cain
and judicial consideration.
It is fitting that We should give on