Evening star., 1934-02-05

The administrations desire to build
the American Navy up to treaty
strength meets with approval in the
Nation, and present plans are COM
mended in editorial comment on the
subject. It is felt that disarmament
by example" has been a failure, and
that the United States should take
advantage Of its privilege to increase
armaments. It is also suggested that
existence of an adequate Navy by the
time of the next international confer
ence will be useful for bargaining pur-
poses.
Provision Of a treaty Navy" in the
opinion of the New Orleans Times
Picayune, sis sound economy and pru-
dent insurance Of the Nations peace
and safety" Reviewing the course Of
the proceedings. the -Picayune
states: Hitherto, the treaty fleet
project has encountered opposition in
Congress. Its foes contended that so
large an expenditure was necessary
because the naval powers were nego-
tiating an agreement for further
reduction of their sea forces, and un-
wise because it might be 'misinter-
preted' abroad. Collapse Of the
armament reduction parley and en-
Iargement Of the naval programs of
the other powers have demolished the
little Navy argument in this country"
"Tne Nation has been SLOW" re-
marks the New York Herald Tribune,
"to grasp the truth of Representative
Ayers assertion that disarmament by
example has proved dismal failure.
Certainly there can be no more doubt
that the other naval powers are hur-
rying their building programs and
that the reason for this Is that they
wish to be in q strong position when
the nations meet in 1886 to discuss
the prolongation Of the treaties signed
at the Washington conference OF
1922. 80 Had the Nation begun
to build up a treaty strength several
years ago it would not now be In the
position of forcing through large
building program in a short time.
True, the program will help give en-
ployment in a small way. But 1t risks
being misinterpreted and misused by
other powers as a pretext for extra
construction by them. All that the
United States asks is that the general
ratio Of 5-5-3 established at the
Washington conference be main
tanned"
Suggestion from British admirals
that France and England cede to this
country sea and airplane bases In the
South Pacific in part payment of the
war debts" impresses the st. Paul
Pioneer Press, which advises: IF
Japan is to have more ships, it seems
common sense that America must have
proportionately greater security, either
through enlargement of its own fleet,
or extension of its bases in the Pa
cific, or both" The Watertown Daily
Times contends that cit behooves the
United States not to trust too much
to the altruism Of other countries. !"
The Yakima Daily Republic demands
"the greatest Navy in the world" and
condemns costly mistakes" before
the World War.
Apparently we are to build our
Navy up to strength" says the Oak
land Tribune, but not to cease our
efforts to win concert Of nations
over to the idea of general reductions.
Such q course. 1t has been proved. is
q slow one. Steps taken have been
few and timid and right now, with SO
many situations discerned on the
horizons the movement is in the other
direction. Our defensive Navy which
makes it possible to have q small
standing Army Is not to enter q COM
petitive race, but Is to attain Its legal
stature"