Washington, Jan. 28.
Present Roosevelt to-day warned Congress that the defence of the United States was inadequate and that national security called for an expenditure of U.S. $800,000,000 for a long time naval building programme.
"Congress knows that for many years this Government has sought in many capitals and with the leaders of many governments to find a way to limit and reduce armaments and establish at least the probability of world peace," the President paid.
"These efforts have failed up to the present. We as a peaceful Nation cannot and will not abandon active search for an agreement of the nations to limit armaments to end aggression but it is clear that until such is reached—and I have given up hope it Will be reached—we are compelled to think of our own national safety.
"It is an ominous fact that at least one-fourth of the world's population is involved in merciless and devastate ing conflict. Armies are fighting in the Far East and in Furone and tension throughout the world is high,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.