Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-03-08
Bravo, Secretary Swanson!

No one who is familiar with Claude
A. Swanson's longtime senatorial rec
ord of constructive friendship for and
interest in the Navy will be surprised
bv the tenor of his maiden statement
as Secretary Of the Navy. In 1t ne
speaks out promptly and plainly in be-
half of the strongest American fleet
permitted under existing international
agreements. Specifically he calls for
building up to the full limits prescribed
in the London treaty of 1880 and main
tanning the ratios therein provided.
Secretary Swanson, moreover, demands
that such construction be undertaken
''as quickly as possible"
A wear ago the new civilian head OF
the Navy was at Geneva as member
of the American delegation to the
World Disarmament Conference. He
labored long and zealously, but, through
no fault of his own, unsuccessfully, to
persuade other conference powers to
scale ornaments of all categories to
the materially lower level proposed I'M
der the Hoover plan. Secretary swan
son. in his new official incarnation at
Washington, is still an advocate OF
naval limitation, but strictly on the
condition that the United States
requisite margin of strength is at all
times kept on the contractual ratio, as
to Great Britain and Japan. that we
are entitled to have. whether we
shall get that ratio by increases or de-
creases," Secretary Swanson says, lis
a question for the State Department"
by which, of course, is meant further
international negotiation.
Amid the Nations perplexing eco
homie difficulties, which must take pre-
cedence over all other considerations,
sight must not be lost of the enduring
problem of national defense. Even the
complete rehabilitation of our disordered
financial structure would avail nothing
If Americas international position were
to be put in jeopardy. There is plenty
of inflammable material lying around
in the world to justify circumspection
and caution on the part of every coun-
try with vulnerable interests to protect.
Americas sure shield" Is the fleet. 1t
must not be neglected.
Representative Vinson, Democrat, of
Georgia, who is about to become chair
man of the House Naval Affairs Com
mittee, gives gratifying indication that
the requirements of the Navy are i'm
mediately to engage the attention OF
Congress. He has already served notice
that he will introduce bill providing
for the new construction necessary to
expand the fleet to treaty strength.
Such program, it Is estimated. would
involve laying down by December 81,
1886, a total of 2S7,330 tons at pro-
epective cost of $1,000 900 900. 1t would
be distributed over 119 vessels-three
aircraft carriers seven light cruisers, SO
destroyers and 20 submarines.
Mr.. Vinson calculates that, if carried
out along gradual and progressive
lines" the required treaty Navy can be
built at an annual cost of about $685.
100000. Such figure would represent
only fragment Of the total Federal
budget. Pending world agreement on
naval reduction, the expenditure of that
money would be an indication to all
concerned that the people of this coun-
try believe in national life insurance,
and are prepared to pay the premiums
it costs. Life insurance Is not luxury
for individuals. 1t is necessity for
nation.