condition of the nation is due to the failure of Congress not only to follow the carefully considered plans of our naval and military advisers, but also to provide any reasonable measure for gradually putting such plans into practice, it is manifest that until a workable plan for a world alliance has been evolved and agreed to by the principal nations, with proper guarantee of good faith, the United States must undertake adequate military preparations for its defense.”

In the meantime the National Security League feels impelled to call public attention to our deplorable condition of unpreparedness.  At the same time the league issues an appeal for public support in behalf of the following program for better national defense: 

1.  Legislation correcting present wasteful methods of military appropriations and disbursement.

2.  Adoption of a definite military policy.

3.  A stronger, better balanced navy.

4.  An effective mobile army.

5.  Larger and better equipped National Guard.

6.  The creation of an organized reserve for each branch of our military service.

All those interested in the work of the league are invited to send their names and contributions to the National Security League, 31 Pine Street, New York City.

[The letter is addressed to “present and former members of the Cabinet, to members of Congress, to Governors of our States and Territories, to Mayors of all American cities, to Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade, to merchants’ associations, to colleges and universities, to university clubs and alumni associations, to all patriotic organizations, to all women’s clubs, and to all American citizens.”

“Until a satisfactory plan of disarmament has been worked out and agreed upon by the nations of the world,” says a statement, “the United States must be adequately prepared to defend itself against invasion.  A military equipment sufficient for this purpose can be had without recourse to militarism.  The league was formed as a preparation not for war, but against war.”]

BY THE NAVY LEAGUE.

[From THE NEW YORK TIMES, May 12, 1915.]

The Navy League of the United States, of which General Horace Porter is President and which includes in its membership Herbert L. Satterlee, George von L. Meyer, Beekman Winthrop, J. Pierpont Morgan, Governor Emmet O’Neal of Alabama, Senator James D. Phelan of California, Cardinal Gibbons, Theodore Roosevelt, Elihu Root, Edward T. Stotesbury, Benjamin Ide Wheeler, Joseph H. Choate, George B. Cortelyou, C. Oliver Iselin, Seth Low, Myron T. Herrick, Alton B. Parker, and scores of other men prominent in the public and business life of the country, through its Executive Committee adopted a resolution yesterday calling upon President Wilson to call Congress in extra session to authorize a bond issue of $500,000,000, which sum, it is stated, is “needed to provide this country with adequate means of naval defense.”