NO DANGER OF ATTACK

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 262, 26 January 1928, Page 11

NO DANGER OF ATTACK

U.S.A AND TRADE RIVALS MR. COOLIDGE’S ASSURANCE By Cable. — Press Association. — Copyright. WASHINGTON, Tuesday. In the course of his regular interview, with journalists, in which reference was made to the utterances of Admiral C. P. Plunkett, concerning the United States and war, the President, Mr. Calvin Coolidge, is represented as having said that the country was now in no danger of being attacked and no alarm was necessary. Mr. Coolidge said he felt that it was natural that the men in the fighting services should lay emphasis on the needs and activities of their branches, but statements concerning war with America’s commercial competitors should not be taken seriously. The moment he attempted to call attention to these utterances he was accused of muzzling free speech. The country should know that alarming charges were often made when appropriations were about to be sought in Congress. I-Ie was unable to understand why no inflammatory statements followed a demand for large postal appropriations, while Army and Navy Bills always brought declarations that the country was facing dire consequences. Mr. Coolidge said he believed men who were in responsible positions should not speak their own opinions. They should consider the welfare of the whole country. He expressed a wish that naval men would adopt this policy. He was convinced that people in the United States and other countries understood the motive behind such inflammatory statements, and would not permit themselves to be disturbed.—A. and N.Z.

Admiral Plunkett said: “The penalty for efficiency is war. War is inevitable so long as we travel along the lines we are travelling on to-day. And what of it? We are not going to leave this heritage of George Washington to luck. If I read history correctly, this country is nearer war than over before, because its commercial position to-day places us in competition with other great commercial nations."