Honesty

Secretary Denby announced that the Navy Department would not spend a $6,500,000 appropriation by the last Congress, because the money was obtained through unintentionally false statements. The appropriation was made to increase the firing angle of the main batteries of several of our battleships, in order to increase their range. It was reported that the British Navy had taken similar action. This information later proved to be incorrect.

According to the Washington Armament Treaty there was some ambiguity as to whether the angles of guns could legitimately be changed. When it was believed that the British were doing so, no objection was made here, but when the British Government issued an official denial, question was raised by Congressmen and others of our right to alter our guns.

Naval experts declare that the treaty prohibits the change neither in letter nor spirit. They also point out the high desirability of increasing the range of our guns because the range of the British fleet in general is 24,000 yards and the range of the American fleet in general is 21,000 yards. (The ranges of Japanese men-of-war are kept secret.) Secretary Denby's announcement, however, puts the matter in abeyance with " the President's approval " until the matter can be placed before Congress.

In some quarters the decision is called a victory for Secretary of State Hughes, who was supposed to be opposed to increasing the angle of the guns because it might lead to diplomatic difficulties. From a political standpoint, at least, the move is very adroit, because it relieves the Administration of any grounds for an accusation that it had obtained an appropriation under false pretenses--an accusation which there is already evidence that certain Congressmen would make. Now Congress must decide the question at its next session.