The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1930-01-30
WHY THIS NAVAL PAl.iR5EEYg
/: BY Lucy Meachan, Thtustona

nj
By Lucy Meacham1,' 'Thrustona
a ,"But so often 1 want TO get hold
of all of a question:" l once COM
planned to a newspaper man, and \
only get bits of it at time from
your columns" .:" g.. ,r3yA y
because a daily handles only the
special angle Of any question which
happens to be most to the fore in the
tewnty-four hours of its publications,
he answered. .t'5Sd
And since the question most to the
fore today is the naval parley IN
Londan opened by King George, in
the historic palace of st. James, and
since we got such angles as weather
on board the George Washington on
which the United States delegation
sailed, carload and half of documents
relating to navel affairs aboard, and
so on, it may be helpful to recall a
few statistics which have been pub
lished from time to time and so
present something of summary.
Perhaps the best known Of these
is the fact that the United States
spent in the fiscal year ending June
80, 1929, s374,054 upon its navy
or to present a tabulation including
the five great naval powers who sent
delegates to this conference and re-
peating the figures Of the United
States:
Fiscal year 1929
United States ..$374, sos, O54.0O
Great Britain 80. ,278, ATS, 100000
japan ......... 131, 222, 272.00
France ........ 99,568, O00.O0
Italy ........,... 69,622,982.0O
Including this amount spent by the
United States under the head of
"Wars past and future. and taking
the division of the tax dollar as basis,
we understand why II cents of every
tax dollar must be allotted to the
same-"wars past and future"
The enormous increase in cost Of
navies since 1904 may also be tabu-
lated thus: . ...-.. .s~.---...,~-
Increased difference between fig
ures of 1904 and 1929
United States :. .$264,41 i, 931.0O
Great Britain 80. 104, 1929, 942.00
Japan ......... 1868, $4,000
France ,........ 39,S27,778.OO
Italy ........... 4O,1O0,582.0O
These figures are taken from an ar
ticle in the January number of Cur
rent History which, was written by
Burton L. French, Chairman of the
House Navy Appropriations, who
adds: "World conditions today are
less threatening than they were
twenty-five years ago. The world
powers economically are less capa-
BILE of warfare than they were in
1904. The leading powers of the
world have gone through the ordeal Of
a war that has punished them beyond
human tongue to describe and has
settled upon the people of the res,
pective countries burdens of indebted
ness from which they will not emerge
within three generations" IN Il
This is the economic side alone,
The religious, the ethical, the prog
ress towards higher ideals of all
peoples are left out. But the econom-
ic side, of necessity, has become the
predominant issue. And, s4f' nations
are not stark mad, way should be
found for them to reduce their naval
burdens without surrendering one
whit of dignity or prestige" to quote
Mr.. French again. ......
This conference on disarmament
follows that held in Washington in
1921, but at slightly earlier date
than at first anticipated. 1t is the
hope of the world that it will begin
lifting of that burden which is not
only upon the peoples shoulders, but
upon head and back alike leaving only
weakened step for general advance
ment. A man should be able to adj
vance upright. So should nation.
All nations. The naval parley is ex-
pected to help accomplish this. There
fore begged President Hoover in; his
farewell message to those delegates
sent to represent the United States,
81 hope that the people Of our country
will cooperate in the progress of the
conference by patience, encourage
ment and freedom from criticism. '
The progress of peace for the world
rests in great measure upon the
shoulders of the five delegations. = I
They have the will to succeed"