Evening star., 1933-03-22

Statements by Secretary Swanson OF
the Navy Department in favor Of build
ing the American feet to the point au-
thorized by treaty has aroused national
discussion. Many comments recognize
the importance Of the budget problem,
but there is much criticism OF the fall
ure of the Government to maintain the
eouipment that measures up to the de-
cisions of the London Conference.
Our fleets of merchant ships are on
all seas" argues the st. Joseph Gazette.
In coming years the Nations flag must
fly from the mastheadS OF more, rather
than fewer, vessels engaged In forelgn
commerce. The sea lanes must be kept
open for their use. Our good faith In
the matter Of limiting sea ornaments
has been demonstrated, but without
avail The head of our Navy Depart
ment insists that we should maintain
the ratios established by the London
treaty It is well known that We have
slid backward since the treaty to dis
ouieting degree. 1t remains for the
other nations bound by the treaty to
say whether We shall reach the agreed
ratio by. building ships or by general
reduction in naval strength. 1t appears
that nothing will come out OF Geneva
to Justify our holding back, and Ger
tainly we should be the victims OF no
further retrogression. 1t should pe
borne in mind the United States woulo
not be entering an armament race
should it decide to build up its fleets 10
treaty ratios; and that while strongly
armed nation may be provocative OF
war, it also may be a stabilizer OF
peace" .,..o,,
so long as other powers maintain
great fleets, armies and air forces,
argues the San Antonio Express. tine
United States must look after its own
defense arrays in manner assuring
their ability to carry out their missions.
The NAVY must be ready to operate
either on the Pacific or the Atlantic at
a moments notice. The Panama Canal
must have adequate protection by both
naval and military arms. That water
vay was constructed primarily TO
strengthen the national defense; its use
in ommerce-though highly important
to both this country and the world gen
erally-is secondary. The United states
Fleet now Is assembled on the Nortn
Pacific. Secretary Swanson states tnat
it will remain there until change IN
the critical Far East situation shall
develop"
"Secretary Swanson'S words, IN the
opinion of the Cincinnati Times-Star.
will be encouraging to those who have
regarded with dismay the virtual cessa-
ton of warship construction in this
country, while Great Britain and Japan
have been steadily building up to their
treaty allowances. Naval experts calcu-
late that If the present disparity con-
tinues, the United States Will be l3o
warships, or 316,530 tons, under its
treaty allowance by 1886, when the
London pact expires. Our Navy would
then be not only far inferior to Great
Britain's, but weaker than Japan's.
The tonnages agreed upon at London
represent what the three powers believe
Essential to their naval defense II
NAV be taken for granted that, what
ever the strain on their budgets, the
other powers will continue building as
they have been. Pleas for govern
mental economy have been just as urgent
in Great Britain as In the United
states, But Parliament has recognized
as Congress has not, that drastic econ
omy in some branches Of government
may be dearly bought"
Recent statements by Representative
Vinson, chairman Of the House Com
mittee on Naval Affairs, are declared
by the Boise Idaho Statesman to show
that he Is In close agreement with
Secretary Swanson, and that paper
aids: Representative Vinson estimated
that . treaty strength program would
require the expenditure Of about 81
million dollars q year, which Is the
total amount available to the Navy
for expenNtur during the fiscal veal