NATIONAL DEFENCES

Southland Times, Issue 20949, 5 December 1929, Page 6

NATIONAL DEFENCES

AMERICA’S GROWING EXPENDITURE. COMMITMENTS FOR NEXT SIX YEARS. Washington, December 3. President Hoover, in his annual message to Congress, referring to naval expenditure, said: “If we shall be compelled to undertake the construction as implied in the Washington Arms Treaty, as well as other construction which would appear to be necessary if an international agreement is not completed, we shall be committed during the next six years to a construction expenditure approximating 1,200,000,000 dollars besides the necessary further increase of costs of the annual upkeep.” The President contended that the country could well be deeply concerned at the growing expense of national defence, and while its forces were comparatively small the expenditures were in excess of the most highly militarized nations of the world.

Discussing the tariff he asked for an effective tariff on agricultural products and some limited changes in industrial schedules. He reiterated that he desired that the broad principle of the flexible provision of the pending Bill be retained. Mr Hoover's views in this connection were disregarded recently by the Senate. Touching on prohibition, Mr Hoover stated that the enforcement of the laws enacted to give effect to the Eighteenth Amendment was far from satisfactory.