Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1944-08-09
Democrats Also Seen
Spreading False Ideas
Charge Republicans Sank Navy
Has No Basis, Says Observer
By David Laurence

I1aS mo OASIS, DAYS observer
By Dapid Laurence
Two days ago attention was called
in these dispatches to the misrepresen-
tations BY Republicans concerning
President Rooseyelt's pledges in the
campaign OF 1910 about sending troops
abroad. But there are misrepresenta-
tions being made by the Democrats con.
corning the acts of q Republican admin
istration that would seem to be equally
unfair.
Thus, Democrats are beginning to say
that "the Republicans sank the Amer
lean Navy in 1922" At the Democratic
convention in Chicago last month. Gov.
Kerr Of Oklahoma In his keynote speech
as temporary chairman, said:
Shall we restore to power the party
whose national leadership, under the
domination of isolationists, strapped and
sank more Of our fleet than was de-
stroyed by the Japanese at Pearl Har-
Dor? Or can We fail to support the
Democratic Administration under which
America has become the greatest naval
power on earth?"
The idea that the Republicans sank
our Navy" has no basis in fact. The
American delegation to the conference
in 1922 at which an agreement was
reached among Great Britain, the
United States, Japan and France to
reduce naval armament was composed
of Democrats as well as Republicans.
yIyI,AyH ha faI 10 tko
Senate every Democrat voted for 1t.
In fact, the vote was virtually unani-
nous. 1t was "a to l and the only dis
senting vote was cast by Senator France,
Republican, Of Maryland.
Consistent Policy.
The effort to reduce armament has
been a consistent American policy
through Democratic as well as Repub-
lican administrations. President Roose-
welt, in letter written to Norman
Davis, chairman of the American dele
CATION to the Naval Conference at
London. gave on october 5. 1884, an out
line of American policy. That letter
was made public on December 8, 1885,
by Mr.. Davis at the first session Of the
London Naval Conference, and it quoted
President Roosevelt, in part, as follows:
In asking you to return to London
to continue and expand the converse
tions begun last June preparatory to
the Naval Conference Of 1895, am fully
aware Of the gravity Of the problems
before you and your British and Jap
anese colleagues. The object Of next
years conference is to frame a new
treaty to replace and carry out the
purposes of the present treaty The
| purposes themselves are to prevent the
dangers and to reduce the burdens in
herent in competitive armament and
| to carry forward the work begun by
the Washington Naval Conference and
to facilitate progressive realization OF
| general limitation and reduction OF
armament
The Washington Naval Conference
| Of 1922 brought to the world the first
| important voluntary agreement for lini-
tation and reduction Of armament. It
stands out as a milestone in civiliza-
| ton.
ut was supplemented by the London
Naval Treaty of 1880, which recognized
| the underlying thought that the good
work begun should be progressive-in
other words, that further limitation and
reduction should be sought.
First Consideration.
To-day the United States adheres to
that goal. That must be our first con-
sideration.
Il ask you, therefore, at the first OPP
portunity to propose to the British and
Japanese substantial proportional re-
duction In the present naval levels.
suggest total tonnage reduction Of 40
per cent below existing treaty tonnage
If 1t Is not possible to agree on this
percentage, please seek from the Brit
| ish and Japanese lesser reduction
Is per cent or 10 per cent or per
cen. The United States must adhere
to the high purpose OF progressive re-
duction. 1t will be heartening thing
to the people of the world If you and
your colleagues can attain this end"
Thus 1t will be seen that President
| Roosevelt not only Endorsed the work
of the Naval Limitation Conference of
1922 but actually urged that limitations
be continued and further reductions be
made. This. Of course, was the basic
philosophy of the United States under
both Republican and Democratic adj
ministrations The American idea was
best expressed by President Roosevelt
In that same instruction to Mr.. Davis:
| Excessive ornaments are in them
selves conducive Of those fears and sus-
picions which breed war. Competition
in armament Is still greater menace. "
When the foregoing was made public,
the Japanese had already served notice
OF their intention to terminate the
Naval Limitation Treaty Of 1922, but 1t
was not to take effect until the end OF
1885. 1t was in last desperate effort
to prevent the treaty of 1922 from being
strapped that President Roosevelt made
his final appeal.
But 1t would be a grave mistake for
the Democrats to try to make a parti-
san issue out of the Disarmament Con-
ference Of 1922 which was Endorsed at
the time by Democrats as we'll as Re-
publicans and this Endorsement was re-
iterated by President Roosevelt himself
as late as 1894 and 1895.
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