PEACEFUL AIMS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XLVI, Issue 10415, 5 June 1925, Page 3

PEACEFUL AIMS.

AMERICA'S POLICY. WAR-MONGERS REBUKED. (Per Press Association—Copyright.) \ NEW YORK, June 3. j At Annapolis, President Coolidge addressed the graduating class at the Naval Academy to-day, when he seized the occasion to re-emphasise the peaceful aims of the United States. He said: "It is known that we have no present or traditional enemies. We covet no territory, we harbour no Imperial- j istic designs', and are not concerning ourselves With any expectation of being attacked or of attacking anyone. As far as we can look into the future, , as far as we can gauge the power and j the temper of other peoples, there never was a time when there was less likelihood that any other nation, or combination of nations, would, or could, make any attack on the United States." President Coolidge proceeded to denounce all persons seeking to precipitate trouble by pronouncing imminent dangers of war, or procla.iming the hostile intentions of other nations. He said: , "The suggestion that any other people are harbouring a hostile intent toward the United States is a serious charge to make. We would not relish having our honourable motives and peaceful intentions questioned by others, and we cannot relish the United States questioning theirs. It seems to me perfectly proper for any one, upbn ix suitable occasion, to advocate the maintenance of a navy in keeping with the greatness and dignity of our country. But as one who is responsible, not only for our national defence, but likewise" for our friendly relations with other peoples, and our title to the good opinion of the world, I feel that the occasion will very seldom arise—and I know it does not now exist —when those connected with our navy will be justified, either directly, or by inference, in asserting that other specified Powers are arming against us, and arousing national suspicion and hatred by attempting to cause us to arm against them." . Though stressing the peaceful aims of the Administration, President Coolidge firmly declared for adequate national defence, pointing out that the peaceable, prosperous: conduct of everyday affairs, and the prew . ..cion of i. material and spirittir 1 progress, could be secured by suffici-iub nayai and military protection. He concluded with an appeal for the universal inte --v-, of American citizens in national dc -nee.