Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-11
H. s. CAN AFFORD HOOVER'S|
NAVY EXPENSE CUT DICTUM
Security Is Not Threatened by Japan or
acknowledgements by Waiting
British Move Are Obvious.

Conference. They have entered a stage
OF acute financial and economic diff
| culties, of which one future conse-
quence may be the inability of the
British to maintain a two-power naval
standard in Europe in the face of
| far more prosperous France.
In a word, in the next year or two
the British may face the necessity of
abandoning their traditional naval
policy. In such case, it will be posi-
BILE then for the United States to reach
actual parity much move Cheaply.
We can afford to wait and see what
is going to be the outcome of the pres
ent British crisis as it affects naval
construction in the world We can
better afford to do it because there is
not the smallest risk. At this moment
there are possible three wars in Europe.
I The first and most likely might be pro-
voked by the arrival of German Ma
tionalism to power and the last desper-
ate effort to justify themselves by a
! foreign adventure. The second posi-
bility lies in the situation of Fascism
faced with a domestic crisis. In its
turn it might seek to save itself by an
attack upon Jugoslavia. Finally, there
! is similar possibility in the case of
the Soviets.
Can Afford to Wait.
But none of these dangers is very
acute, and not one of them could have
the rcmoteSt direct menace for the
United States. With absolute serenity
we can forget the construction of ships
for which we shall have no immediate
need and wait to see whether changes
in Britain will not make possible a very
great reduction in the terms of parity
in the next conference.
Meantime, the action of the Presi-
dent can have useful influence in the
world; not great influence, but, as far
as it goes. a good one. Nothing can be
accomplished at the forthcoming Dis
armament Conference because the
French will not agree to permanent
reduction of their armies without the
creation of some new form of guaran-
| tee. On the other hand. in view of the
! present worldwide depression, all ma
! lions may find it necessary to reduce
ornaments temporarily. And Mr..
Hoover has set significant example.
| We shall save money without risking
our security or imperiling the sacred
principle of parity. Unless every pres
ent sign fails. Britain will have to come
off the two-power naval standard as
she has off the gold standard. If that
takes place. we shall simply have wasted
money in building up to a level she
must abandon. For, after all, whether
at 100000 tons or half that total
which our policy of parity demands
the size of the fleets always has been
predicated upon British. not American,
considerations.
At this moment no nation, half as
well as the United States. can afford to
set an example of reducing armament
expenditures. Our billion dollar
parity" program has been the bulwark
of all big navy and big army advocates
the world over and has pretty nearly
put our delegates out of action in all
disarmament discussions. Hitherto we
have seemed in European eyes at one
time preaching disarmament abroad
and practicing colossal armament at
home.
President Hoovers moratorium in
parity is at once sound naval policy
and good business. His war debt and
reparations mora forum has already
produced a very far-reaching deflation
Ct reparations and the practical can
collation. of debts. His moratorium in
parity is almost sure to produce a
similar deflation in the tonnage figures
of parity.
(Copyrieht, Iq3fO