Evening star., 1940-08-06
Destroyer
Decision 'Up
To President
British Aid Problem
Coils for Competent
Authority, Eliot Says
BY MAI. GEORGE FIELDING
ELIOT.

stroyers from the United States Navy
to that Of Great Britain. In my ar
ticle OF Sunday, pointed out that
the statements made about our large
surplus" of destroyers were not true,
when compared with normal re-
quirements for our own naval estab-
lishment. If therefore we are going
to transfer any destroyers, let us
see clearly what we are doing; let
us weigh the risk against the ad-
vantage, and if the risk Is consid-
erable, let us be sure that we reap
a corresponding advantage.
insist that the only competent
authority who can determine what
ought to be done in his matter Is
the President, after carefully weigh
ing the advice of the War and Navy
Departments, whose intelligence
services have information which no
one else in this country can obtain
or evaluate as they can. II In their
Judgment so or so destroyers would
make the difference between defeat
and victory to Great Britain, then
by all means let these ships be
transferred as speedily as possible.
Stimson's Statement Cited.
In no other way could we obtain
such valuable defense insurance for
the same expenditure. But it was
only last week that the Secretary Of
War, speaking, it must be presumed,
with the knowledge obtained through
his intelligence division, stated that
Great Britain might be totally de-
feated within 80 days. One must
presume such statements to be made
by man like Col. Stimson with full
sense Of responsibility; and If that
is the case, then it is necessary to
point out that 1t is unlikely that our
destroyers could make any difference
in time to be of service.
am most anxious that every aid
be given to Britain which Is con-
sistent with our own safety: but T
am even more anxious that the
United States Fleet, which may be
the last hope of freedom in this
world, shall not be frittered away in
vain.
| am not afraid of "acts Of war"
have repeatedly stated that such
definitions no longer have a mean
ing. II 1t Is to our advantage, if it
Is worthwhile to send these destroy
ers, by all means send them. I do
not think, however, that the people
who are urging this action are COM
petent to Judge of It's advisability or
its risks. Indeed, some of them pro-
claim their incompetence by the
arguments they put forth.
Columnists' Figures Disputed.
Two well-known Washington COL
umnists, Messrs. Alsop and Kintner.
Tor example, in syndicated article,
state:
"The American Navy has more
than 300 destroyers, or more than
all the navies in the world put
together" I have before me on my
desk an Official letter from the Navy
Department stating the number of
under-age destroyers in our Navy to
be 76, over-age, 1913; total, l9s.
This, Of course, excludes vessels of
destroyer type which have beer
converted into other types, such as
minelayers. mine sweepers, ETC., and
have ceased to be destroyers. OF
these there are As, plus 8 others
Tor experimental duties. We still
do not get 300, or even 250.)
The total number of destroyers in
"all the other navies Of the world"
Is $40, If the word "other" is-some-
what disingenuously - intended to
exclude the British Navy, the total
is still 369. And this excludes many
vessels Of the German, italian, jap
anese and other fleets which are
rated as torpedo boats, but are
almost as large and formidable as
the American average destroyers
which are now under discussion.
II 1t Is indeed true, as claimed,
that the State, War and Navy De-
partments are united in this matter
ana are advising the President ac-
cordingly. then it Is to be presumed
that the President will in due course
recommend to the Congress suitable
legislation to permit the destroyers
10 be transferred. Should he do so,
acting on such advice, should have
nothing but applause for his action.
Let no aid that we can safely send
to Great Britain be withheld. LET
us, indeed. take any reasonable risk
to help her. But let us also re-
member that the Island OF Great
Britain may prove untenable; and
that II that is so. then upon us, in
company with the British Domin-
ions, falls the heavy responsibility
OF being the last bulwark Of human
liberty and human rights In a dark
ening world.
No. Place for Whims.
That Is responsibility with which
we have no right to take light
hearted chances. The risks and
problems OF day-to-day decisions
can be faced only in the light OF
the fullest information, the most
competent professional Judgment.
I have studied these matters Of
strategy and naval policy all my
life, and I do not feel competent to
pronounce judgment on what we
ought to do. do not think any
journalist or any society of well-
meaning enthusiasts, has a right to
be didactic about such irretrievable
decisions. 1t would. in my opinion,
be unfortunate in the last degree #
such military decisions became COM
monty the subject of ill-informed
and irresponsible agitation. -
There is every difference between
this decision and one Of military
policy, such as the question Of con.
scription. Matters Of policy are
properly the subject Of public de-.
bate; the acts of the Executive in
the conduct of war are far less So.
And this act falls within that defini.
ton. The responsibility rests first
OF all with the President and hts
advisers. They should be left to
the discharge Of 1t without the pres.