The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1933-08-30
Editorial Comment
Editorials printed below show the
trend Of thought by other editors.
They are published without regard
to whether they agree or disagree
with The Tribune's policies.

trend OF thought by other editors.
They are published without regard
to whether they agree or disagree
with The Tribune's policies.
Foreign Navy Propaganda
New York World telegram
The anticipated naval propaganda
from abroad has begun. According
to London and Toxic dispatches the
peace-loving British and Japanese
governments are forced to enlarge
their navies to keep up with the
Roosevelt building program.
No one will take that sort of prop
uganda very seriously outside OF
Britain and Japan, but to keep the
record straight it is perhaps worth
while to repeat that the Roosevelt
building program is under the quota
agreed to by the London and Toxic
governments, and that the Roosevelt
program was launched not before but
long after those foreign powers had
been building new ships.
Mr.. Hector G. Bywater, generally
recognized as the leading British ma
val writer, in the Daily Telegraph of
London predicts British building
program OF Is cruisers, Is to Is new
destroyers annually and other naval
units in proportion. He says:
Little hope now remains that ma
val ornaments can be graduated by
treaties. The sole effect Of these to
date has been to emasculate the
British navy and rejuvenate all the
other fleets. It Is felt, indeed, that
the latest American and Japanese
programs have administered death
blow to naval limitation by agree
ment."
There are several adequate answers
to the foreign charge that the United
States IS wrecking the hopes of dis
armament. But we can pass over the
pertinent facts that the belated
American building program will not
bring the American navy up to the
treaty quota, and that congress spe-
officially provided In the building au-
thorization for suspension OF con-
struction In event Of a new limita-
ton treaty. We can even ignore the
vital fact that the United States for
10 years has urged and urged In vain
the foreign powers to accept any kind
Of actual disarmament.
Forget all the past and the mutual
}ockeying Of the naval powers for
position, discount all the big navy
propaganda In all countries, includ-
ing the United States, and Judge the
United States and other powers sole.
~ on the basis Of present policy.
The United States government has
made a standing offer to disarm by
agreement as much as any other ma
ton at any time. That Is the test
Disarmament Is not q matter Of talk
but OF action. Disarmament admits
OF no alibi. II the other nations sin.
cerely want joint naval reduction
they have only to accept our offer.
1t Is significant that America ha.
been most anxious for disarmament
to avoid q naval race which America
as the worlds richest nation, prob.
ably could win. But Americas plea!
for 10 years have failed. What NOR,
can America do? America canno
force disarmament upon the othel
powers by talk. America cannot ever
force arms limitation on the othel
powers by example; when we re.
Trained from building up to ou
treaty quota the others ignored GU
example and went on building.
Doubtless the large navy policies o
/ SN%o
by outright militarism than by fear,
resulting from the temporary break
down OF the worlds peace machinery
Here Is an opportunity for tn
peace groups Of this and other coun
tries. Their leadership is waning.
Obviously the cause Of worl,
peace Is being retarded by tho IN
ability Of peace proponents to &c
together on q common program. Il
this country, as in others, one grou|
still has faith In and desires to worl
through q revitan1ed League OF Ma
tons. Another group believes tina
virtually all peace moves since tn
great war have been along the wron
lines and should be junked.
/ Meanwhile, the desire for peace
the dread Of war; grows among tn
people. The people want to work fc
peace. to make their efforts count
but they do not know how.
The time has come for the peac
organizations here and abroad t
rise above their petty squabbles, :
get together In a united front agains
the forces Of world chauvinism an
militarism.
Such a united front for peac
would not only deserve but woul
receive the active cooperation Of tn
United States government.