WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFENCE DEVOLVES UPON U.S., CLAIMS ADMIRAL NIMITZ

Evening Star, Issue 26103, 17 May 1947, Page 7

WESTERN HEMISPHERE DEFENCE DEVOLVES UPON U.S., CLAIMS ADMIRAL NIMITZ

(Rec. 1.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, May 16. Because England is deeply in debt and her resources seriously diminished she may no longer be able to provide adequate naval forces for her own security, and certainly will not be a major factor in the naval security of the Western Hemisphere, declared Admiral Nimitz in a testimony before the House Appropriations Committee released to-day. Nevertheless. Admiral Nimitz believed that British-American sea power must stick together for world security and that any weakening of British sea power is the reason for strengthening American sea power rather than the reverse. The responsibility for the naval security of the Western Hemisphere now devolves upon the United States, not from altruistic or idealistic reasons, but from cold self-interest. ; Admiral Nimitz discounted the possibility that the atom bomb or other new weapons would supersede the present methods of waging war in the near future. While agreeing that international co-operation was essential to real security, Admiral Nimitz warned that, until the United Nations was a gping concern, with power to compel decisions, the United States must maintain her military and naval strength.

He added that, not until world conditions have changed drastically fromtheir present state, can the United States consider the reduction of military strength to a point where it could give effective support to American diplomacy. Vice-Admiral Hussey, Chief of the Ordnance Bureau, testified that for the next 10 to 15 years the navy mustreply on the best of weapons with which the United States finished World War 11. Other evidence disclosed that all information pointed to extremely active Soviet interest in military research. It was estimated that Russia’s military expenditure would be 1,226,000,000 dollars in 1947. More than 500 outstanding German scientists had been taken to Russia, and had been identified by name. The House Appropriations Committee recommended a, reduction of approximately 11 per cent, in the navy’s budget. 'President Truman had requested an appropriation of 3,513,000,000 dollars, but the committee considered 3,135,000,000 would be adequate, despite the warning that it would mean a personnel reduction of 40.000. The previous budget totalled 4,333,000,000 dollars.