Evening star., 1938-03-22
PEACE WITH RIGHTS
HELD AIM OF u. S.
Navy Big Enough to Guard
'Neighborhood' Needed,
McReynoIds Says.

DAonNSdSt ONcE d NdtlUIl. Wluc ncCWOTk
Of the National Broadcasting Co.:
Armaments are no more than the
thermometer which records the politi-
cal and economic health of the world
At given moment Limitation and
reduction of armaments occur as a
consequence of an improvement Of the
political and economic health. Re-
armament takes place when political
and economic health are lacking. In
other words, in order that arms may
be limited by international agreement,
there must be condition of appease-
ment between the nations, based upon
mutual trust and confidence and con-
crete achievement in the political and
economic spheres.
Cause, in other words, must not be
confused with effect. One of the con-
splcuouS reasons for the lack of sue
cess In recent arms limitation under
taklngs was the fact that at the time
the nations We're striving to limit and
reduce their armaments they were not
adjusting their political differences
and solving their economic problems.
So long as nations refused to compro-
mise their political disagreementS and
sought to stifie trade, insecurity was
bound to prevail and result in mill
tary preparation.
Stagnation Breeds Fear.
First, tariffs, then quotas and finally
restrictions choked the free flow of
commerce. With the damming of the
stream of exchange of products be-
tween nations through artificial bar
rlers, 1t was only logical that barriers
OF mortar and steel should be erected.
Mutual trust and confidence born in
life-giving trade gave way to mutual
fear and distrust bred of an insuffi-
cient self-sufficiency. The self
destruction of beneficial trade pacts
gave way to axes which led to larceny.
As an inevitable result the rivalries
OF European and Asiatic states i'm
pinged in ruthless spoliation and war
The vulnerable condition of Ethiopia,
Spain, China and Austria invited the
dictators to come and feast upon the
carcasses of moribund people. It
must be apparent to all. however, that
sooner or later these dictators will be
f1ghting among themselves to deter
mine their respective portions. Mean
while the trade of America and of the
world suffers. The scene is set for a
Veritable collapse of civilization un-
less the world decides whether it is
to be guided by law of international
agreement or whether it is to be
guided by the law OF tooth and claw
among the political scavengers who
are now gathered for plunder.
This country, in common with every
other country which ardently desires
peace and the rule of law and order
IN the world, must, while standing
hrm and secure behind its own de-
lenses, contribute what it can to ap-
peasement through economic improve
ment and political good sense.
No one can. and no one does, ques-
ton the abiding interest of the Ameri-
can people in its Government in the
removal of the burden of armaments.
In this country virtually no voice Is
raised TO refute the sound contentious
that the economic load placed upon
the peoples Of the world by excessive
preparation for war should be re-
moved; that competition in arma-
ments is factor contributing. to un-
rest IN a troubled world; that the
standard Of life everywhere would be
raised by the diversions of moneys
spent on armaments to productive and
social ends
President Has Authority.
1t has been insisted in the House
that a resolution be passed by the
House and Senate making it manda-
tory on the President that he immedi-
ately call world disarmament con-
ference. Personally. feel that this
should not be done, and secondly, the
President has this authority with or
without a congressional resolution.
We have always taken the initiative
toward the world limitation of arms.
In the light of present developments
1t may be said that these conferences
through no fault of our own, have
been Of no avail.
1t is a fundamental policy Of our
country to limit and reduce its arma.
ments in joint action by international
agreement. There Is no need to cite
1T great length our record in this re-
gard. 1t is we'll known to us all that
1t was the American Government
which took the initiative for the
washington Conference of 1922,
which gave the original impetus to
naval limitation and reduction; that
1t was the American Government
which sought to carry this work fur
ther in 1927; that an American dele
cation took an outstanding part at
the London Naval Conference of 1880,
and again at the 1886 conference, and
that throughout the General Disarma-
ment Conference. which is now in ad-
)ournment, American representatives
contributed in the fullest possible ex-
treme to the promotion of general
agreement for the limitation and re-
duction of arms.
notwithstanding present difficulties
encountered in getting the nations of
the world to agree to a limitation of
ornaments this country still stands
willing to support an international
conference for naval limitations as ex-
pressed in the bill passed in the House
Today and which meets with the ap-
pfovai of the administration.
although it would like to. see a verv
olHerent and very neighborly world,
the American people and its Govern
ment, am confident, are sufficiently
realistic if appreciation of the situa-
ton as it actually is to wish to boil
ster security pending a reversal of
policy by the principal armed powers
which will offer some hope that mr.
ther effort at disarmament will not be
nusory.
Navy Bill Is Passed.
The House today passed the Navy
bill authorizing a 20 per cent increase
In naval construction, and this meas
ure now goes to the Senate for further
approval. Thus while the American
heart beats fervently for peace and its
voice IS continually raised in the policy
u the good neighbor this Nation is
at the same time wisely preparing