Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-18
FOES DRIVE HARD
ON TREATY NAVY"
Failure of Building Program
This Season vii! Mean
Delay to 1882.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

20 prevent any start on the treaty
. navy of the United States until July
1882, 10 months hence. Senate anc
House leaders especially interested ir
naval affairs have just had this menac-
ing situation brought home to them
The goal of the pacifist element is to
persuade Congress not to appropriate
any of the SIS, 100000 just recommended
by the House Naval Committee as the
first step in the construction program
permitted under the London treaty
The committee urges the authorization
of / aircraft carrier, l fying-deck
cruiser, 10 destroyers and 4 submarines
It also asks for a total of $50 planes, OF
which $50 are for the vessels just men
toned and $50 for ships previously
authorized.
Two separate acts of Congress are
required to carry out naval building
programs. First the programs must be
authorized, and then the required funds
have to be appropriated. Congressional
friends of the feet are in possession OF
facts warranting the fear that even au-
thorization for the initial units of the
treaty Navy" may not be forthcoming,
because of opposition which is impor-
tant though more or less under cover.
Long Delay Possible.
If the House committee program
should be authorized in both branches
of Congress, but no money appropriated
before March to carry 1t out, so as
to enable construction work to start
with the new fiscal year, viz, July /,
1881, the whole matter will go over I'M
til the next session. That means that
no start with the treaty Navy would
be possible for another year and a half.
Such inaction, Washington naval au-
thorities point oNr would seriously i'm
pair the United States position and bar
gaining power at the projected next
naval conference in 1885. When the
American delegation at London last
Winter successfully fought for a parity
fleet, so far as Great Britain Is con-
cerned, and a 5-to-3 American feet, so
far as Japan is concerned, the expecta-
ton on the part of all three powers was
that Uncle Sam would come to the next
parley with the ships London awarded
him.
Nobody at the conference, when each
and every power was battling for every
inch OF advantage it could get, sup.
posed that q year later the United
StateS-principal inStigator Of the five
power conclaVe-would not have taken
a single step toward creating the feet
Secretary StimSon and his colleagues
achieved. To date the United States
has done nothing but draw blue prints
for such q feet. It is the eagerly ex-
pressed hope and avowed plan Of the
national pacifist leaders that the treaty
navy" will continue to float on a sea
Of paper.
Issue Up to Congress.
The Bureau of the Budget, with the
full approval Of President Hoover, has
recommended the House Committee
S74,000, 900 program and the CORE
spending appropriation Of funds. The
burden of responsibility for delay in
commencing construction designed to
give us naval equality with Great
Britain and regularize our strength at
with Congress, and not with the Presi-
dent. Mr.. Hoover has approved the
treaty navy" though he has not made
any particular statement strongly advo-
eating that it be forthwith proceeded
with.
Part Of the plan to bring about parity
with the British feet is the moderni-
cation Of three American battleships at
a cost Of $4,000, 900 each. This project
too. Is opposed by the anti-prepared-
ness organization. Abolish Battleships,
Don't Modernize Them!" is the title of
an editorial in the news bulletin Of the
National Council for Prevention Of
War, which Is now being broadcast all
over the country.
Frederick J. Libby, the effective Of
fetal of the National Council, states in
the article just mentioned that 1.-The bill
to authorize the battleship- moderniza-
tton expenditure has been prevented by
q determined opposition from coming up
for action In the House" It Is the anti
preparedness groups hope to prevent
eventual Affirmative action IN the Sen
ate.
Told to Watch Papers.
watch the papers" adjures Mr..
Libby. land If the battleship bill is
passed in the Senate, write your Repre-
sentative 70 defeat it in the House.
Our country should be using its wealth
and influence not in starting another
naval race, but in constructive measures
looking to universal disarmament by
international agreement and permanent
peace"
The advocates Of adequate military
preparedness are also feeling the pres
sure Of the pacifist phalanx on Capitol
Hill. They are encountering constant
proof of the "nibhling' process to which
the enemies Of national defense are sys-
temattcally reSorting. The breaking
down of the scheme for military train
ing in schools and colleges is one of the
pacifistS' prime detectives. A movement
TO that end Is being fomented by the
Committee on Militarism in Educa-
ton" which is made up of men and
women conspicuously identified with
the anti-preparedness campaign in the
United States
80
now pending in Congress, the enactment
of any one of which would greatly cur
tail military training of the country's
youth. One Of these bills would debaT
any officer of the United States Army
or any other Government employe
from teaching any course Of military
training. Another bill would make al
military education elective, and not
compulsory.
Defense Act Involved.
All and sundry Of these proposals are
considered a deliberate drive TO under
mine the national defense act Of 1920,
which was Gen. John j. PerShing's flnal
achievement before going onto the re-
tirement list of the Army after the war
Believers in that basic foundation Of
the Republics land defense declare that
unless firm and immediate action il
taken, the anti preparedness forces
stand an excellent chance of accom-
pliShing their purpose
This is why the reserve officers arr
now fighting to have re-appropriateC
100000 formerly appropriated by Con-
gress, but saved" by the Government
and therefore not spent as Congress in
tended; why the National Rife Associ
alton is struggling for $4,000 increaS'
in their appropriation for civilian riff,
-
ing in schools and colleges are movini
to prevent its abolition. Preparedness
advocates are hopeful that popular in
terest In the PerShing war story ma,
help to save the day.
(Copyright, le3i)