The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-02-06
Give lis Peace

Hysteria has passed the cruiser bill
How else explain the senates defiance of the de-
rnsnd of the President and commander in-chief Of
the navy for elimination of the unusual time clause
requiring construction five cruisers year Tor the
next three years? How else explain the infiammatory
speeches against Great Britain? How else explain the
sllru nsnuations Of war?
And all within three weeks of the senate's solemn
ratification of the treaty with fty-nine nations re-
nouncing war as an instrument of national polcyI
The danger is that this hysteria will feed upon it
self That it will spread. That it will infect the
American and British people. Even now they are
troubled by the senates heated speeches and votes.
They do not understand. The American people have
been told that the only way to deal with the British
is by threats and steel The British will be told again
that America is a miltaristic menace.
Both charges are untrue. The very thoughts par
take Of madness.
Surely there is enough sanity in the English
speaking peoples to this thing through calmly 1t
is so easy to understand to forgive to correct the
folly which has dragged these friendly nations down
to the muck of suspicion and threat.
True, there is trade competition between us. There
is rivalry over OIL rubber, raw materials There is
conflict over markets and money. There is the old
quarrel over freedom of the But 1t is not true
that these conflicts or any other hound two kin
dred nations into the of arms which leads to war
unless the governments fail in their duty and the
peoples are robbed of their reason.
stupidity of the British government began this
thing congress is trying to finish it. But blame will
get nowhere.
Is It so strange? For two centuries Britain has
ruled the seas Her very life has been at stake She
has fought and won against all who challenged that
suprenacy-Span, Holland, France, Germany-aH.
Now we come demanding equal naval strength
mathematical equality which means in face superior
ity over that island-centered empire.
Is it strange then, that Britain. is slow to forego
her ancient glory and power slow to risk her present
securityP Is it strange that the British admiralty
violated the equality spirit of the Washington treaty
limiting capital ships by building more cruisers to
increase British sea superiority? Is it strange that
the British government refused parity plea at the
Geneva conferences and instead turned to protec-
tive alliance with France against the day when we,
the richest and strongest nation in the world might
misuse power?
Rather. is it not stranger that the British people
have turned against their governments policy of
naval dominance? They to be coming to that TACT
of faith by which henceforth they will intrust In part
their national existence to the friendship and fairness
of America We are protected by geographic $50
lation and national self-sufhciency. We can not
measure the heroism of such remuneration ~
sh people and their desire for American friendship 1t
has seen only the provocative British government and
been afraid. This does not mean that congress is
miltarstc 1t means only that congress, after seven
wears of remarkable patience under constant blum
ders abroad, has succumbed to the human weakness
of hysteria, temporarily.
If we can understand their position. the British
people should be able to understand this cruiser Dill
and refuse to let their ant-American propaganostS
drive them further :nto needless armament race.
Despite this cruiser bill, there is chance Tor
successful conference on law and complete naval
limitation through equality. Within month the
Hoover administration will take ofie. new British
government in June will come into power, govern
ment which can be chastened by popular demand 1or
a friendly agreement with the United States.
There will be conference
But it will fail like the Others unles sboh countries
avoid hystera. .H ~e.