We have a considerable cruiser tonnage, but a part of it is obsolete.  Everyone knew that had a three-power agreement been reached it would have left us with the necessity of continuing our building program.  The failure to agree should not cause us to build either more or less than we otherwise should.  Any future treaty of limitation will call on us for more ships.  We should enter on no competition.  We should refrain from no needful program.  It should be made clear to all the world that lacking a definite agreement, the attitude of any other country is not to be permitted to alter our own policy.  It should especially be demonstrated that propaganda will not cause us to change our course.  Where there is no treaty limitation, the size of the Navy which America is to have will be solely for America to determine.  No outside influence should enlarge it or diminish it.  But it should be known to all that our military power holds no threat of aggrandizement.  It is a guaranty of peace and security at home, and when it goes abroad it is an instrument for the protection of the legal rights of our citizens under international law, a refuge in time of disorder, and always the servant of world peace.  Wherever our flag goes the rights of humanity increase.

MERCHANT MARINE

The United States Government fleet is transporting a large amount of freight and reducing its drain on the Treasury.  The Shipping Board is constantly under pressure, to which it too often yields, to protect private interests, rather than serve the public welfare.  More attention should be given to merchant ships as an auxiliary of the Navy.  The possibility of including their masters and crews in the Naval Reserve, with some reasonable compensation, should be thoroughly explored as a method of encouraging private operation of shipping.  Public operation is not a success.  No investigation, of which I have caused several to be made, has failed to report that it could not succeed or to recommend speedy transfer to private ownership.  Our exporters and importers are both indifferent about using American ships.  It should be our policy to keep our present vessels in repair and dispose of them as rapidly as possible, rather than undertake any new construction.  Their operation is a burden on the National Treasury, for which we are not receiving sufficient benefits.

COMMERCIAL AVIATION

A rapid growth is taking place in aeronautics.  The Department of Commerce has charge of the inspection and licensing system and the construction of national airways.  Almost 8,000 miles are already completed and about 4,000 miles more contemplated.  Nearly 4,400 miles are now equipped and over 3,000 miles more will have lighting and emergency landing fields by next July.  Air mail contracts are expected to cover 24 of these lines.  Daily airway flying is nearly 15,000 miles and is expected to reach 25,000 miles early next year.