AMERICAN NAVAL POLICY

Evening Star, Issue 20023, 14 November 1928, Page 4

AMERICAN NAVAL POLICY

BUILDING PROGRAMME REVIEWED Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. WASHINGTON, November 12. The General Navy Board to-day issued a statement of policy, which was approved by Mr C. 1). Wilbur (Secretary of the Navy), calling for an American navy second to none, and “ maintained in sufficient strength to support the United States policies of commerce and guard our continental and overseas possessions.” The statement asks for the construction of cruisers exclusively of the 10,000-ion type, armed with Sin guns, and the application of the 5-5-3 capital ship ratio of the Washington Treaty to auxiliary ships. The statement takes on greater emphasis from the fact that it was published the day following President Coolidgo’s speech, in which bo favoured more 10,000-ton cruisers; and it is expected to have an important influence on Congress when the 274,000,000d0l Bill for . building fifteen 10,000-ton cruisers and one airplane carrier, now pending in the Senate, is taken up when that body meets next month. The statement asserts that the fleet should be well balanced, and should be kept at top efficiency through an active programme of replacement; and it is definitely against the building of small cruisers. Two general statements in the Navy Board policy arc particularly interesting:—“To ensure the strength of the navy for exercising ocean-wide control of the seas, with particular reference to the protection of American interests on overseas and coastwise commerce,” and “to cultivate friendly and sympathetic relations with tho whole world by foreign cruises, and to support in every possible way American interests, especially the expansion and. development of American foreign commerce and merchant marine.”

Mr Coolidgo’s speech has met with a mixed reception throughout tho United States. Partisan newspapers strongly commend its point of view, but others, while not quarrelling with his subject matter, declare that his _manner is likely to give offence. Some newspapers declare that it will give impetus to tho first proposed I,GUO,OOO,OUOdoi programme. Public men are divided in ihiri expressions of their opinions, according to their previously expressed points of view. For instance, Mr Nicholas Murray Butler declared that " navy expansion would be a travesty,” but now he says that “the now peace pact renders it unnecessary, unless all men are liars.”

The Washington correspondent of the New York ‘World' states that it is reported on good authority that Mr Hoover, iu his first message to Congress, will advocate President Coolidge’s large naval programme. He, however, is expected to call a now conference for the limitation of armaments on land and sea, shortly after his inauguration, unless the initiative is taken by some .European Government. President Coolidgo and Sir Hoover are walking hand-in-hand in establishing tho United States foreign policy, which is, “Walk gently, bub carry a big stick,” and "are searching for ways of peace by being prepared for war.—-Aus-. trnlian Press Association.