One of the most important treaties ever laid before the Senate of the United States will be that which the 15 nations recently signed at Paris, and to which 44 other nations have declared their intention to adhere, renouncing war as a national policy and agreeing to resort only to peaceful means for the adjustment of international differences.  It is the most solemn declaration against war, the most positive adherence to peace, that it is possible for sovereign nations to make.  It does not supersede our inalienable sovereign right and duty of national defense or undertake to commit us before the event to any mode of action which the Congress might decide to be wise if ever the treaty should be broken.  But it is a new standard in the world around which can rally the informed and enlightened opinion of nations to prevent their governments from being forced into hostile action by the temporary outbreak of international animosities.  The observance of this covenant, so simple and so straightforward, promises more for the peace of the world than any other agreement ever negotiated among the nations.

NATIONAL DEFENSE

The first duty of our Government to its own citizens and foreigners within its borders is the preservation of order.  Unless and until that duty is met a government is not even eligible for recognition among the family of nations.  The advancement of world civilization likewise is dependent upon that order among the people of different countries which we term peace.  To insure our citizens against the infringement of their legal rights at home and abroad, to preserve order, liberty, and peace by making the law supreme, we have an Army and a Navy.

Both of these are organized for defensive purposes.  Our Army could not be much reduced, but does not need to be increased.  Such new housing and repairs as are necessary are tinder way and the 6-year program in aviation is being put into effect in both branches of our service.

Our Navy, according to generally accepted standards, is deficient in cruisers.  We have 10 comparatively new vessels, 22 that are old, and 8 to be built.  It is evident that renewals and replacements must be provided.  This matter was thoroughly canvassed at the last session of the Congress and does not need restatement.  The bill before the Senate with the elimination of the time clause should be passed.  We have no intention of competing with any other country.  This building program is for necessary replacements and to meet our needs for defense.

The cost of national defense is stupendous.  It has increased $118,000,000 in the past four years.  The estimated expenditure for 1930 is $668,000,000.  While this is made up of many items it is, after all, mostly dependent upon numbers.  Our defensive needs do not can for any increase in the number of men in the Army or the Navy.  We have reached the limit of what we ought to expend for that purpose.