Evening star., 1932-02-24
The Hale Bill.

The Hale bill, authorizing naval
building program which would give the
United States full naval strength under
the provisions of the treaty of London
has received unanimous approval OF the
Senate Naval Affairs Committee. The
committee has acted expeditious.y and
wisely 1t is high time that the rest
of the world should understand that Il
1t persists in a policy of big arma-
ments the United States proposes 70
be in position to protect itself. Ano
1t is high time that the American
people should understand that national
defense is not an issue to be side
tracked. George Washington, whose
memory the American people are cele-
brating in this year Of the Bicentennlal
of his birth. sensibly and patriotically
warned his fellow Americans against
permanent foreign alliances and ulged
them to care always to keep ourselvec
by suitable establishments on respect
able defensive posture" The London
treaty set forth the principle that the
United States not only was entitled
to have a Navy equal to the strongest
in the world, bat also that it should
have such Navy for defensive
purposes.
Too often the impression has prevailed
abroad that the United States is not
concerned with national defense needs;
that it is willing to follow a laissez-
faire policy, hoping that nothing ad-
verse will turn up. And too often that
is the foolish policy that has been fol-
lowed in this country. The United
States very properly has taken lead
in the movement for arms limitation,
hoping finally for measures that amount
to disarmament by the nations of the
world, and in the movement for the
settlement of international disputes
without recourse to war. But while the
United States has for years set an
example to the rest of the world in the
matter of limited armaments, the rest
of the world has disregarded the exam
pie as completely as though it had never
existed.
The Senate leadership, both Repub-
Ecan and Democratic, favors the passage
of the Hale bill, though it is reported
that there is difference Of opinion re-
earding the time when the measure
should be taken up.
One school of thought in the Senate
proposes that the Congress shall act
on the naval program Immediately, so
that the American delegation at the
Geneva Conference on Disarmament
may be in a stronger trading position.
Another holds that it would be unwise
to give the impression at Geneva that the
United States is interested in proper
tionate armaments rather than in dis
armament. 1t is obvious, however, that
actual disarmament is a long way in
the future, while limitation Of arma-
ments Is a goal which may be attained
within the lives Of present generations.
A big step along these lines was taken
In the London Conference when three
Of the great naval powers. the United
States, Great Britain and Japan,
reached an agreement regarding all
cstegories of naval vessels. If at the
Geneva Conference it is found possible
to win the rest Of the nations to sim
liar agreement much, very much will
have been accomplished. In the mean
time, however, it is clearly not only
to the advantage of the United States
to provide for a treaty-strength Navy,
but also it is duty to the people
OF this country.