Evening star., 1938-01-29
For Defense.

REFUSAL 70 punish q sentry who slapped
the face Of the American charge DAFT
faires at Nanking. Headlines over the
third story apply to General Sugiyama's 8
statement that Japan must now pre-
pare for war with another power than
China" He presumably means Russia.
To these concrete evidences of high
tension throughout the world" President
Roosevelt replies in terms that reflect the
American peoples view of what the stu
alton demands in the realm Of national
security He proposes twenty per cent
expansion Of the Navy, expenditure OF
$780, 600 on Army aircraft. IS 08O 900 on
manufacture of machine tools for pro-
duction of military materiel, $3.50, 900 for
improvement of the Armys enlisted Re-
serve, and 100000 for the Armys am
munition deficiencies.
1t is to the recommendation Of a one
NTH increase in the existing naval
building program that public interest
will mainly attach, because primarily 1t
is augmented sea power that Is required
to meet the exigencies underlying the
Presidents epochal proposals.
Besides six additional battleships and
two cruisers, the President would provide
$4,000, 900 for new types of small vessels of
experimental character. These are need
ed to meet developing conditions which
now require all navies to devise craft not
contemplated by previous constructional
standards. The swift, wasplike TORPEDO
and bombing boats with which Mussolini
mystified and alarmed the British in the
Mediterranean two years ago are prob
ably among the 'experimental' types to
which the President alludes. He gives
no inkling as to size Of the new battle
ships or of the guns they will mount
But If the japanese are building, as re-
ported, 42,000-ton, l6-inch-gun vessels, it
may be taken for granted the United
States will abandon its present 35,0o0-
ton, 1e-inch-gun type and match, or per-
haps even outstrip. the more formidable
Japanese design. Britain is understood
to have the same intention.
In every line of his defense message the
President breathes manifest reluctance to
launch this country into q cycle OF vast
new naval expenditure. His plan, it has
been unomcially estimated, may call for
as much as $4,000. 900 900, spread over a
period Of years. Even for 4 people as
financially potent as ours, this is no mean
budget. Measured in terms of national
life insurance, it is infnitesimal. Deplor-
ing collapse Of disarmament hopes, Mr..
Roosevelt declares that until there is
agreement I" to limit armaments and
end aggression We are compelled
to think of our own national safety"-so
fundamental a proposition that 1t needs
no argument.
The cost of carrying out Mr.. Roose-
velt's proposals is undeniably serious at
this tax-burdened hour, but 1t Is Of minor
importance compared to the other fac
tors which, with deepest regret" he
adduces.
Before closing his appeal 10 Congress
to take heed OF all these imponderables,
including "the discarding Of the prin-
ciples and treaties which underlie inter-
national law" Mr.. Roosevelt points out
that America must possess adequate de-
fense not only for protection Of our
coasts, but also Of our communities far
removed from the coasts" Though he
makes no mention Of the Monroe Doc
trine, 1t will be recalled that when Mr..
Roosevelt went to South America in
1896, he intimated that the security Of
our sister republics is an interest second
only to that which the United States has
in its own territorial integrity. Hence,
unquestionably, his present emphasis on
adequate defense of the Panama Canal,
a. the connecting link" in the scheme
for simultaneous defense Of every part
Of the United States"
Charges may be heard that, In ursing
so impressive an addition to Americas
armed establishment, Franklin Roosevelt
is preparing for war" He is. But for
war against us, not by US. The over
whelming bulk Of his compAtriots agree
with their President that the protection
he advocates lis and will be based not on
aggression, but on Defense"
Congress should present a prompt and
united front in favor of a program that
springs from the most elementary die
tates Of national self preservation. It u
projected at q period Of world unrest
bristling with peril to the democratic
institutions and ideals for which this
Nation not enly stands, but for which.
beyond any shadow cf doubt, It is also
prepared to fight.
Swedenborg.