AMERICA’S AIMS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19498, 5 June 1925, Page 9

AMERICA’S AIMS

WAR TALK DEPREDATED, INTENTIONS ENTIRELY PEACEFUL. NATIONAL DEFENCE NECESSARY. Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. NEW YORK, June 2. t At Indianapolis to-day President Coolidgo addressed a graduation class at the Naval Academy, when ho seized the occasion to re-emphasise the peaceful aims of the United States. He said; “It is known that wo have no present or traditional enemies. We covet no territory. Wo harbour no Imperialistic desires, and we arc not concerning ourselves with the expectation of being attacked or of attacking anyone. “So far as wo can look into the future, and so far as we can gauge the power and temper of other peoples, there never was a time when there was less likelihood of any other nation or combination of nations making any attack on the United States.” President Coolidge proceeded to denounce all persons seeking to precipitate trouble by pronouncing imminent dangers of war or proclaiming the hostile' intentions of other 1 nations. Ho said that the suggestion that any other people were harbouring hostile intent towards Ure United States was a serious charge to make. “We would not relish,” he said, hav ing 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 anyone upon a suitable occasion to advocate the maintenance of the navy in keeping with the greatness and dignity of our country. But as one responsible not only for our national defence, but also for our friendly relations with other peoples, and our title to -he good opinion of the world, 1 feel that the occasion will very seldom arise, and I know that it decs not now exist, whyn those connected with our navy wih ba 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." , , , t Though stressing the peaceful aims of the administration. President Coolidge firmly declared for adequate national defence, pointing out that the peaceable and prosperous conduct of everyday affairs and the preservation of all material and spiritual progress could only be secured by sufficient naval and military protection. The President concluded with an appeal for the universal interest of American citizens in national defence.—A. and N.Z, Cable.