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Show Does Our Navy Invite Wars? The new naval program in this country seems to have met with general approval evcept from some pacifists, many cf whom are sinceie believers in world peace. In some places the tendency has been to assume that the United States, by strengthening its navy moves closer o war. In other quarters, quar-ters, the opposite thought is expressed, ex-pressed, that by being able to defend de-fend ourselves we will not be called upon to do so. Frankly, the believer in the eventual even-tual brotherhood of man has been somewhat perplexed at times to determine de-termine just what attitude to take toward armaments. Many sincere men and women in tills country believe be-lieve they are serving the cause of peace by denouncing the building of battleships and the preparedness of armies. They may be mistaken, but they are entitled to consideration. If there are those of this mind who do us the honor to read these columns col-umns we hope they will remember that it takes two nations to keep the peace as well as to make war. Much talk is in the air about Japan and the possibility of warfare between the progressing people of the East and the United States. Quite frankly, the superficial signs, in our opinion, point to a conflict some daj although we hope, and believe, that it can be avoided. In considering Japan, the people of the United States should first of all understand the extent of American Ameri-can interests in the Far East, the val ue of trading rights in that part of the world, and the possibility of the 'yellow peoples, under Japanese leadership, lead-ership, challenging the rule of the white man throughout the globe. Not necessarily that we, as a people be ready to fight at the drop of a hat, but that, as citizens, we understand under-stand the interests involved and make up our minds what they are worth. In the opinion of this writer th-i quickestwayto encourage war with Japan wculd be to let the Japs assume as-sume that they can attack the United Unit-ed States with an even chasce of success. Exhibitions of Japanese militarism have not been lacking in the past few years and evidence accumulates ac-cumulates that the island empire would not hesitate to use its arms to gain any vantage point that might be important enough to pay for the sacrifice entailed. Therefore, a strong American navy, which would tend to make prohibitive the cost that Japan would have to pay for victory, is an instrument of peace. While the nation is making up its mind as to its future, whether we shall follow a nationalistic or international course, be isolated oi uvc ana imngie wiin tne world, there may exist differences of opinion as to the navy needed. If we are to crawl into a shell, be self-contained and live apart, all the navy that is neces-ary is one that can defend continental United States. If we are to adept an internationtl policy, trading with the rations of the wcrld, hen the very standard of living liv-ing of the people of this country vill depend upon our world commerce, com-merce, and a navy should be maintained main-tained that will be able to protect that commerce and our trading rights throughout the world. Just at present, in the state of transition, without very definite policies pol-icies on international problems, we have as a guide the various naval treaties, regulating the naval strength of the leading naval pow ers, ine idea of preventing a mad scramble for naval superiority by definite treaty navies met universal acclaim and was generally accepted as a means of saving money for all powers. Under them the United States is given a navy equal to that of Great Britain, but sof ar as we have lagged far behind and today the actual navy is below the fighting fight-ing strength of Japan as well. Certainly, patriotic Americans and lovers of world peace generally should see that the American navy is built to full treaty strength. When other nations are ready to disarm no one believes that the United States will be unwilling to do likewise. |