Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1932-12-03
HURLEY ASKS PROBE
by CONGRESS Of
JUS. DEFENSE POLICY
Declares Land Forces Below
Minimum Needs in Face
of Menacing World.
REPORT POINTS OUT
CANCELLATION FUTILITY
-
Clash Of Views Expected When
Army Appropriation Needs
Are Taken Up.

&A4C 4ahCu Ops
Declaring American land forces are
below minimum needs in the face OF
still disturbing world conditions, Secrc-
tary Of War Hurley, In his annual re-
port, made public today, called upon
Congress to conduct q non-partisan in
quiry into the national defense policy
before it attempts to reduce the
strength Of the Army.
Despite our comparative isolation we
cannot ignore foreign military poten-
tta1ities when planning our national
defense" Secretary Hurley warned.
The temper of the world, while point
ing toward Cancellation, cannot be said
to have crystallized in that direction.
ments OF our land defense are at or
below the present minimum needs" a.
Secretary Hurley thus adds his opin-
ION to that Of Gen. Douglas Macarthur,
chief OF stan, who earlier In the week
mad sounded warning that the aun-
trustworthiness OF treaties" makes tt
necessary for the United States to I'm
crease its garrisons In the Pacific, due
TO the situation in the Far East.
Controversy Ii Expected.
When the Army appropriation bnl n
considered In Congress, both Secretary
Hurley's and Gen. MacArthur's refer
ences to world conditions. rs reflected
IN the national defense policy, win come
In Tor considerable controversy as tndi-
Gated by the opposing views of Repre-
sentative Collins Of Mississippi and
other Democrats on the Military Affairs
Committee.
Secretary Hurley also dealt at length
In his annual report on the question
OF Philippine independence, which is
coming up before the Senate Territories
committee next Thursday, the House
having passed an independence bill At
tne last session. Reiterating his former
opposition to political independence AZ
inviting revolution and anarchy 81
granted before the Filipinos have
made greater progress toward economic
independence, Secretary Hurley de-
clared pending legislation constitutes
no solution of the future question Of
PniIppfne- American relations. :.
Revert1ng to the general discussion of
national defense, Hurley said: am the
event that broad considerations OF ma
Monai welfare should seem to require
IN future the fundamental modification
OF our national defense policy, a fun
ano expert inquiry IS strongly advo-
the results desired and of stay.ng witI,in
the general limits Of such apnropriations
as may be deemed advisable. :
National defense should never be
permitted to become. partisan oues-
tion," he added. .s'7 s'-' =
Mature Consideration. -
He emphasized that while s4be
United States has no imperiafistic de-
signs and seeks peace and an1ity with
the rest OF the world, the national de-
tense act should be amended by Con-
gress and reductions made "cnly after
the most mature consideration and
careful weighing of the results to Be
Unbalanced military expenditures !.
ne reported, appropriated with view
70 curtailment OF funds, are infinitely
more extravagant than are larger sums
allotted on an intelligent and practical
OF the bills which would grant
Philippine independence in 10 to 90
years. he said: "The political chaos in
the Orient today is such that in INV
opinion this Is no time to deal with
Philipptne independence The present
legislation directed to that end would
serve the interests Of neither the Fill
Pine people nor the United States. It's
provisions reflect not progressive stems
but an attempt to prescribe detailed
measures to be applied over a long
period and under future conditions that
cannot be known In advance. It tends
to involve the United States In a series
OF unnecessary and premature commit
ments for the future"
Furthermore. Hurley pointed out, the
bills contemplate that. at Independence,
49, ~l~nN
rights Of possession and then subse-
quently seek to acquire through uur-
chase or lease lands necessary for
coaling or naval stations" No sum
Gent reason is apparent, he said, why
the United States should give away ali
It's property In the islands at Independ-
ence and then be compelled to buy Il
back again. '.,'f
Opposes Complication.
Hurley said that the Joint board and
the aeronautical board already were
cooperating activities of the Army and
Navy and ARE fully capable Of work.
ing out any future adjustments between
the services which the needs Of the
country may indicate" For this rea-
son. he reiterated his opposition to pro-
posed consolidation Of the War and
Navy Departments.
He observed that motorization and
mechanization are proceeding satisfac-
torily in the Army and that 'stG gnation
in promotion" could be remedied by
suitable legislation without adding to
the Governments burden" -
He said that $345,000,000 would be
necessary to carry out authorized rivers
and harl,ors and flood control work;
that the Panama Canal in the last
fiscal year did not earn the annual inter-
est charges of per cent; that Con-
gress should enact legislation like that
recommended by the Muscle Shoals
Commission and that the recommends
tons of the War Policies Commission
should be written into law. ~. -