Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-04
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

ID VI OOOLD LANCOLN.
While Senator Hale of Maine, chair
man Of the Senate Naval Affairs Com
mittee, was putting out statement last
night declaring for the enactment of
legislation for a naval building program
to bring the American Navy I'D TO
treaty full strength, report was in
circulation that a movement was to
be launched almost Immediately in this
country for naval building holiday.
Whether the United States Govern
ment would sponsor this drive for q.
suspension Of naval building during the
present period of economic depression
was not ascertained. The drive NAV
come from non governmental quarters
Favors Plan in Principal
" This Government has before it now
proposal from the League Of Nations
ton
Hugh Wilson, American Minister tn
switzerland. Informed the League of
Nations Disarmament Committee at IFS
recent session that his Government ia
vored in principle the Italian naval
holiday plans. except as it affected de-
Stroyer building But so far the State
Department has not formally replied
10 the League proposal. The reply NAV
De delayed for some time. as the Gov
eminent has until November to make
its reply.
Holds Delay Detriment.
Senator Hale in his statement last
night declared that ANY naval holiday
that puts of our catching up ION its
naval building) is clearly a detriment
to this country and an advantage in
armament to other countries at our
expense"
Furthermore. the Senate naval chair
man warns the country that in the
pl esent chaotic condition of the world
no one can predict the future" init
mating that war may be forced on this
country at a time when it is not able
to defend itself. In this connection,
he said.
1 sometimes wonder what would hap
pen TO this country If through some I'M
foreSeen event We were forced into a
war and came out on the losing side
Should any such distressing event oc-
cur we may be very sure that the United
States would be called upon to pay the
entire cost of such a war, and prob
ably considerable proportion of the
existing debts of the countries lined up
against us.
Year by year we are getting into a
situation, through the weakening Of our
national defense, where the possibility
OF such catastrophy becomes more
and more possible.
Borah Favors Holiday.
President Hoover has before him the
views OF Senator Borah, chairman of
the Foreign Relations Committee, in re-
gard to a possible naval holiday. The
Idaho Senator has been strongly in
favor OF such move and stated his at
titude to the President at a White
House luncheon yesterday.
The President late yesterday after
noon was in conference with some of his
chief advisers. including Secretary Mel
Ion and Assistant Secretary of the
Treasury Ogden Mills, postponing his
departure for his camp on the Rapidan
for more than an hour. No intimation
was forthcoming, however. regarding
the subject of these conferences.
Senator Hale argued in his statement
against cessation of naval building by
the United States while it was in an
inferior position in certain categories of
naval vessels to other important naval
powers He said that the cause Of ma
| tional defense would suffer under such
procedure.
Plan Joint Legislation.
He added that he and Representative
Britten of Illinois, chairman of the
House Naval Affairs Committee. intend
ed to introduce in both houses similar
bills. authorizing, not piece-meal an
nual building up of the Navy. but a
general building up to meet the terms
of the London treaty, including the
necessary replacement of obsolete
ships"
Such measures, however, are sure to
meet strong opposition. it has already
been indicated by members of Congress
opposed to big naval programs.
In support of his proposed building
program Senator Hale said:
This is in line with the program
authorized in 1916, the last ships of
which program are the II destroyerS,
for the building of IL of which Con-
Continued on Page 4, Column So