I wish to repeat again for the benefit of the timid and the suspicious that this country is neither militaristic nor imperialistic.  Many people at home and abroad, who constantly make this charge, are the same ones who are even more solicitous to have us extend assistance to foreign countries.  When such assistance is granted, the inevitable result is that we have foreign interests.  For us to refuse the customary support and protection of such interests would be in derogation of the sovereignty of this Nation.  Our largest foreign interests are in the British Empire, France, and Italy.  Because we are constantly solicitous for those interests, I doubt if anyone would suppose that those countries feel we harbor toward them any militaristic or imperialistic design.  As for smaller countries, we certainly do not want any of them.  We are more anxious than they are to have their sovereignty respected.  Our entire influence is in behalf of their independence.  Cuba stands as a witness to our adherence to this principle.

The position of this Government relative to the limitation of armaments, the results already secured, and the developments up to the present time are so well known to the Congress that they do not require any restatement.

VETERANS

The magnitude of our present system of veterans’ relief is without precedent, and the results have been far-reaching.  For years a service pension has been granted to the Grand Army and lately to the survivors of the Spanish-American War.  At the time we entered the World War however, Congress departed from the usual pension system followed by our Government.  Eleven years have elapsed since our laws were first enacted, initiating a system of compensation, rehabilitation, hospitalization, and insurance for the disabled of the World War and their dependents.  The administration of all the laws concerning relief has been a difficult task, but it can safely be stated that these measures have omitted nothing in their desire to deal generously and humanely.  We should continue to foster this system and provide all the facilities necessary for adequate care.  It is the conception of our Government that the pension roll is an honor roll.  It should include all those who are justly entitled to its benefits, but exclude all others.

Annual expenditures for all forms of veterans’ relief now approximate $765,000,000, and are increasing from year to year.  It is doubtful if the peak of expenditures will be reached even under present legislation for sonic time yet to come.  Further amendments to the existing law will be suggested by the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States, the Disabled American Veterans of the World War, and other like organizations, and it may be necessary for administrative purposes, or in order to remove some existing inequalities in the present law, to make further changes.  I am sure that such recommendations its may be submitted to the Congress will receive your careful consideration.  But because of the vast expenditure now being made, each year, with every assurance that it will increase, and because of the great liberality of the existing law, the proposal of any additional legislation dealing with this subject should receive most searching scrutiny from the Congress.