Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-07-22
The London Treaty.

Inc Lnndon naval treaty, rdJlIleQ Dy
the Senate yesterday, marks real step
toward elimination of naval armament.
Limitations. it is realized, must come in
all categories of naval vessels before a
marked reduction of armament is pos
sible. In the London treaty for the
first time the big naval powers of the
world agreed to limit naval strength in
all categories. When the next confer
ence is held it may be possible to bring
about cut in the size of the navies,
both in the interests of world peace and
of lifting the tax burden from the peo-
pies shoulders.
1t was foregone conclusion that the
Senate would ratify the naval treaty.
Notwithstanding the uproar which has
been raised in certain quarters against
the treaty, the showing made by the
opposition in the Senate vote was
ridiculously small, considering the fact
that the treaty was held up for weeks
and months by this little band of IT.
reconcilables. The country has over
whelmingly approved the naval treaty
which gives us parity in naval strength
with Great Britain and establishes a
satisfactory ratio with Japan in all
categories of ships.
Now that the treaty has been ratified
by the United States Senate and APP
parently is assured of ratification by
the other powers signatory thereto, the
United States should build up its Navy
to the strength authorized under the
treaty 1t is one thing to agree to naval
limitations. 1t is another thing to
permit the United States to continue
far behind the naval strength Of Great
Britain and, in some respects. far be-
hind Japan. The Congress has been
negligent in the past. 1t has failed dis
mally to keep pace with the naval
building programs of Britain and
Japan. The danger now is that, having
obtained parity with Great Britain on
paper and approximately lo-6 ratio
with Japan, Congress will permit the
parity and the ratio to remain merely
matters of pen and ink. National de-
tense needs of the United States require
the construction of the treaty fleet. If
later agreement is made by the nations
to reduce naval strength further and
it becomes necessary to scrap some OF
our naval vessels, the expenditure will
nevertheless have accomplished its
purpose.
President Hoover, the Democratic
leadership of the Senate and the coun-
try are to be congratulated on the
successful termination OF the ratifi-
cation fight in the Senate. 1t was
clear from the beginning that without
the support of the Democrats the treaty
could not be ratified. Laying aside all
partisanship, the Democrats of the
Senate, under the leadership of Sena-
tor Joseph T. Robinson of Arkansas
their party leader, gave whole-hearted
support to the treaty.
1t is true that some OF the Senators,
both Republican and Democratic, ex-
pressed regret that it had been found
impossible at the London Conference
to bring about a more drastic reduc-
ton in the navies Of the world powers.
The fact, however, that an agreement
was reached at all is a distinct triumph
and an advance in the cause of peace.
The opposition to the treaty in this
country and in other countries comes,
in the main, from those who are OPP
posed to any agreement for naval limi-
tations. 1t comes from those who pre-
fer to continue with the old laissez
faire plan rather than to agree to CO.
operation with other nations.