Can We or Not?

Following the controversy over the right of the United States to increase the angle of its naval guns comes information from France that the range of French battleships is being increased. The implication which generally goes with this information is that what France has a right to do under the Limitation of Armaments Treaty (which she has not yet signed) we have also a right to do.

The cases are not parallel, however, since there is a special provision of the treaty allowing France and Italy to reconstruct their capital ships in respects not permitted to other powers. But raising the angles of naval guns is nowhere specifically mentioned. The treaty is unfortunately vague both in specification and intent as regards the whole matter.

American naval experts assert that we should not violate even the spirit of the document in increasing the angle of our guns. Representative Madden, Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, is sure that to do so would be a grievous violation of our good faith. The President himself must make the final decision. Three factors will probably be involved: 1) Whether the change is a violation of the treaty in spirit or letter; 2) Whether it would have undesirable consequences in the attitude of foreign nations to us; 3) Whether it would have any military value if Great Britain and France should make similar alterations.