Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-28
Hoover and the Navy.

It hardly needs the assurance OF
Chairman Britten Of the House naval
committee that the President-elect IA
vors q strong Navy to convince the
sruntry where Mr.. Hoover stands on
silAt subject. AS long ago as his &C
eeptance speech he placed himself
kquarely on record. Mr.. Hoover de-
clared, in unmistakahle language, that
the United States must not only be Sc
cure, but must be respected"
To guarantee that respect which the
President-elect had in mind q bill is
now pending before the Senate. 1t pro-
vides for the addition to the Navy OF
fifteen cruisers and one aircraft car
rier In particular, 1t contemplates the
starting of those ships within three
years, and not merely their authori-
cation on paper. The cruiser bill aims
straight and specifically at enforcing
for the United States that prestige in
the eyes of the outside world which
Herbert Hoover emphasized as being
quite as essential as national security.
The United States Is conSecrated to
the ideals of world peace. It pressed
forward to the Kellogg pact because Of
its desire to materialize warless civili-
zation. But at every stage Of its -nego-
tiation American diplomacy stressed
the right Of every signatory to safe
guard the principle Of Self-defenSe.
Self-defense is impossible without the
means Of defense. Our responsible naval
advisers recommend the construction
Of fifteen cruisers as the irreducible
minimum necessary to the maintenance
of our protective system. The House Of
Representatives voted for the ships
year ago. Only the tardy acquiescence
of the Senate is required to enable
their construction.
Chairman Britten has introduced the
name Of President-elect Hoover into the
cruiser discussion at psychological
moment. This week will determine the
fate of the bill. A majority Of Senators
favors Its passage. A minority. led by
Senator Borah, espouses the recon-
mendation of President Coolidge for
elimination Of the time clause" What
Mr.. Coolidge wants is authorization, not
construction. He contends that the un-
certainties of Federal finances are such
that Congress should not pledge itself
in advance to long-range naval ex-
penditure.
The Coolidge era, now drawing to a
close will take its place in presidential
history as the era of economy. Its bless
ings are manifold. Every income-tax
payer has been its beneficiary. But it
would not tend to enshrine' in deserved
glory the policy for which Calvin Cool
idge's name will chiefly stand II, at the
eleventh hour of his administration,
false economy were TO be invoked for
the purpose Of keeping the United
States Navy below par.
Economy In national defense can
easily become extravaganza, for it in-
evitably happens that country plunged
unexpectedly into a great war pays
dearly, and thrice dearly, the price Of
unreadiness for the emergency. The
years 1917 and 1918 stare US in the face
in tragic proof OF that axiom.
A nation which possesses more actual
gold than all the rest Of the world put
together can afford to invest $274, o0o,.
600 against recurrence Of our costly
pre-war unpreparedness.
II the United States wants respect
for its interests, respect for its policy
Of naval limitation and respect for the
ideal Of freedom Of the seas" the Sen
ate has a chance, here and now. to en-
force that respect. 1t should vote to
build the cruisers.