Jere Krischel: /* =SWORN STATEMENT OF Z.S. SPALDING-Continued. */

2006-02-11T10:01:12Z

=SWORN STATEMENT OF Z.S. SPALDING-Continued.

Jere Krischel at 10:01, 11 February 2006

2006-02-11T10:01:00Z

Show changes

Ken Conklin at 05:04, 6 February 2006

2006-02-06T05:04:39Z

Ken Conklin at 05:00, 6 February 2006

2006-02-06T05:00:16Z

Show changes

Jere Krischel at 05:20, 12 December 2005

2005-12-12T05:20:59Z

New page

1160 HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
U. S. E. S. DALE, 3D RATE,
Navy-Yard, Washington, D. C, January 19, 1894.
Snt: (1) In compliance with your request I submit, with diffidence,
my views on the Hawaiian Islands, more especially from a military
standpoint, and with reference to their value to the United States in
this respect.
Contrary to the views expressed by others, I have differed with
them in their conclusions thereon, as to their military value as a colonial
possession, holding, that, in time of war and without a navy equal
or nearly equal to that of the greatest naval power, their possession
would be a source of weakness rather than strength.
(2) In coming to this conclusion I have accepted, as a strategic fact,
two conditions existing in our national life, and which will continue to
exist for many years to come, which are either ignored or not accepted
at their just value, by other writers, in dealing with such fact.
(3) The first condition is, as stated before, the nonpossession of a
naval force equal, or nearly so, to that of the greatest naval power;
and the second is, the improbability of Congress or our people ever
permitting the creation and maintenance of such force. These two
conditions, therefore, are, in themselves, sufficient to establish, from a
military standpoint, the fact above referred to, as being of a strategic
nature, and which must be taken into consideration in dealing with
this problem. Being so, we need seek therefore no further for reasons
for not acquiring the islands, such as are now being discussed in the
public press.
(4) On the assumption that the wish is father to the thought, some
military writers are hoping that the islands once being acquired, the
United States would perforce be obliged to gradually create a large
naval force; to be led into it, as it were, and thus, on the Jesuitical
plan that the end justifies the means, ultimately find ourselves in a
position to successfully defend what we acquired, from their point of
view, more for that purpose than anything else. A careful scrutiny of
this has convinced me of the fallacy of their reasoning, and, if followed
out, will only lead, in my opinion, to further mortification without
creating the force desired. Much as I wish, aud think necessary, for
other just reasons, a larger !N"avy than that which we now possess, I
yet feel convinced that not until a distant future will we have one sufficiently
large to warrant our launching out on a policy of colonial
acquisition with any degree of military safety.
(5) Turning to the question (Hawaii being our colony) as to what we
would do with it in case of war with a great naval power, I could only
say that we would ultimately have to let it go after having wasted a
lot of money.
With Hawaii as our colony, national prudence would at least dictate
that we should at once have to set about putting it in a state of defense,
and that in no small way, either.
(6) We can not presume that no great naval war will occur, but we
can presume that when such does come, the side which has the greater
force aud is ready first, stands the better chance of winning. If, then,
our first duty is to be ready to defend our colony, and the more so that
it is an island, wisdom would dictate that it should be a defense not
against the weakest naval power, but against the strongest; and this,
as said before, requires such a force as the country is not willing to
create. Without, then, we immediately prepare, and on the required
scale, we would not be in that state of readiness demanded by the situation.
The great time essential to the creation and mobilization of
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS. 1167
battle fleets with all their accessories is now too well known not to be
seriously taken into account.
(7) The last military consideration that I have to note relates to the
probable results of a war between ourselves and a greater naval power,
with respect to our island colonies, coupled with our nonpreparation
and nonpossession of a nearly equal naval force. The breaking out of
hostilities would undoubtedly witness the attempt of a fleet of battle
ships to wrest the islands from us and hold them by keeping the sea.
This would ultimately be done by bringing a second or third fleet to
reenforce the first if necessary, nor is the point sustained, which is sometimes
advanced, that a great naval power would hesitate to weaken
itself elsewhere in order to do this, especially when the result to be
attained absolutely requires such action.
(8) In these days of great speeds, large coal radii, with cables and
coaling stations, naval forces can quickly be massed, or moved from
place to place, while the balance of power among the great nations
nowadays in Europe is too precious and too carefully established to
risk its disturbance simply to take advantage of each other.
(9) The true American policy with respect to Hawaii, from a military
standpoint, would seem to be their neutralization by international
treaty, so that all could come to coal and relit there; in all other respects,
save perhaps the sentimental side, we have already all the advantages
that can ever accrue to us by actual possession.
I am, dear sir, with great respect, your obedient servant,
E. S. HOUSTON,
Commander U. 8. Navy, Commanding.
Hon. GEORGE GRAY, M. C,
Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Washington, D. 0.
WASHINGTON, D. C, Tuesday, February 13,1894.
The subcommittee met pursuant to notice.
Present, the chairman (Senator Morgan) and Senators Sherman and
Erye.
Absent, Senators Butler and Gray.
SWORN STATEMENT OF Z. S. SPALDING—Continued.
The CHAIRMAN. Toucan make any statements in explanation of your
deposition, which you have just examined, with a view to its correction,
that you may think necessary to make more plain your meaning.
Mr. SPALDING. I find upon examination of the stenographic, report
of my former statement that I may be misunderstood regarding my estimate
of the capacity of the Hawaiian Islands for supporting a larger
population than is now to be found in the country.
I would explain that 1 mean to convey the idea or opinion that the
country is not and never can be a manufacturing or commercial country
based upon its own products. It lacks in mineral resources everything
required for manufacturing, and can hardly be said to have even agricultural
advantages necessary to compete with more favored countries
to the point of exporting enough to pay for what necessary imports
would be required from abroad. Sugar, coffee, rice, and other staples

@@ Line 44: / Line 44: @@
 Absent, Senators Butler and Gray.
-==SWORN STATEMENT OF Z.S. SPALDING-Continued.=
+==SWORN STATEMENT OF Z.S. SPALDING-Continued.==
 The {{sc|Chairman.}} You can make any statements in

@@ Line 164: / Line 164: @@
 E.S. HOUSTON,
-''Commander U. 8. Navy, Commanding.''
+''Commander U.S. Navy, Commanding.''
 Hon. GEORGE GRAY, M.C,

Template:1166-1167 - Revision history

Jere Krischel: /* =SWORN STATEMENT OF Z.S. SPALDING-Continued. */

Jere Krischel at 10:01, 11 February 2006

Ken Conklin at 05:04, 6 February 2006

Ken Conklin at 05:00, 6 February 2006

Jere Krischel at 05:20, 12 December 2005