Evening star., 1940-05-02
Chamber Urges
Strengthened
u. 5. Defenses
Speedy Preparations
On Cash Busis Asked
In Resolution

American business launched its
economy" election year platform
today with a declaration that the
Nations defenses are inadequate
and urged their strengthening on
"a pay-as-you-go basis"
With about 300 of its 1909 regis
tered delegates voting, the United
States Chamber of Commerce at its
28th annual convention approved 26
resolutions, most significant Of
which was its declaration:
1T is imperative that prepara-
tions go forward promptly and
speedily to protect our people and
our country that we may continue
to live as free people. Congress
should discharge fully its response
bilities as to the national defense
which we are so strongly urging.
AS representative of all our people
and with the sole power to declare
war, Congress should reafirm its
determination to keep the United
States out of war unless our Ma
ton is endangered"
AQmlfal SLdIk SPEAKS.
Another high light of today's ses-
sions was an address by Admiral
Harold r. Stark, chief of naval
operations, who told the chamber
that the $50 ratio of naval power
with Britain and Japan may be-
come inadequate.
I'm this altered and dangerous
world condition that has arisen we
must look to our naval strength,
and that alone, as the necessary
sufficient safeguard in either or both
oceans" he declared. 1T may we'll
come to pass that the ratio is
no longer sufficient. Anything less
is not. or should not be, acceptable"
In order to attain parity lit will
be necessary that we use the ship
building facilities of the United
States to the limit of their normal
capacity during the next few years.
1t will even be necessary to expand
somewhat the facilities now avail
able"
Wants Greater Strength.
To those who ask against whom
are we building and maintaining a
Navy?" Admiral Stark in turn
posed a question: Against what or
whom do we take out collision,
theft and liability insurance when
we buy an automobile?"
. "If a country wants peace, one Of
the surest, certainly one of the
~ ~ 9
stronger than the countries that
want war"
DR.. o. C. Carmichael, chancellor
of Vanderbilt University. declared
the real defense force" of the Ma
ton lies in national well-being.
"In a war-torn world with its
emphasis on military power. the de-
fenses against the diSintegrating
forces within our national life must
not be overlooked, for it is my firm
belief that the invasion of alien
ideas is more to be feared in our
time than the invasion of alien
armies, and that the best assurance
against them as an aggressive, posi-
tive Americanism that expressed it.
self not in words, but in deeds" he
said.
Bemarns Declining Emphasis.
Dr. Carmichael said he was dis
turbed in the declining emphasis
on these ideals, and an increasing
concentration of attention on secu-
rity as the goal of social effort"
I'VE all desire security, individ-
ually and collectively but we
appear to have overlooked that the
one as well as the other is the by
product of a well-ordered life rather
than benefit to be found by making
1t the object of our search"
The defense resolution adopted
today declared:
"The National Guard and all
other branches of defense should be
adequately trained and completely
equipped. Businessmen are urged to
cooperate in thiS training by grant,
ing vacation leave with pay to men
in the National Guard while in
training. The availability of trained
men and the best material for de-
fense must be assured.
Financial preparedness is just as
necessary as military preparedness.
Only if we are strong financially can
we expect to carry the burden of
any prolonged struggle. Unbalanced
budgets and further increases in the
public debt cannot continue if we
are to retain the financial strength
necessary for any prolonged defense
We should carry our national de-
fense on a pay-as-we-go basis. We
believe that substantial economies
can be effected in the operations of
the Government and that such
economies should be made at once
in the interest of national safety.
With these economies we believe
that any additional burden for our
safety will be assumed readily by
businessmen and all other citizens.
Enough Power to Prevent Attack.
I'VE must be prepared to defend
our country. prepared with a de.
tense of such strength that any
(See U. S. CHAMBER, Page A-6.)
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