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Press Releases, vol. XVI, p. 35
Statement by President Roosevelt, January 8,
1937
In accordance with
the provisions of the Navy Appropriation Act of June 3, 1936, I have directed
the Navy Department to proceed with the construction of two replacement capital
ships. The keels of these ships may be laid in conformity with existing
treaties at any time after January 1. Three of our battleships, the Arkansas, Texas, and New York, will be more
than 26 years old before these ships can be completed. If we are not to reduce
our Navy by obsolescence, the replacement of capital ships can no longer be
deferred.
The last Congress
made an initial appropriation for "Two Capital ships, as replacement of
overage Capital ships, to be undertaken only in event that the President
determines as a fact that Capital-ship-replacement construction is commenced by
any of the other signatory powers to the Treaty for the Limitation and
Reduction of Naval Armaments signed at London April 22, 1930."
On July 29, 1936,
Sir Samuel Hoare, First Lord of Admiralty, announced that the orders for two
battleships of the 1936 program had been let and stated—
"It is the
intention that the keels should be laid at the earliest I possible moment
permitted by the Washington Naval Treaty; namely in January 1937. In order to
achieve this object, it is essential to order the vessels now, and although
complete specifications will not be available until October, there is
sufficient information available to
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DOCUMENTS
enable the contractors to prepare for laying
down the keels in January next."
On December 12,
1936, France laid the keel of the capital ship Jean Bart.
In addition to
these three capital ships whose construction has been undertaken since the
passage of the Navy Appropriation Act, eight others are under construction in
the following countries: Three in France, two in Italy, and three in Germany.
Some time will
elapse before bids can be obtained and contracts awarded and additional time
will be required for contractors to assemble material before the keels of our
two ships can be laid.