New-York tribune., 1919-02-05
House Leaders
Assail Wilson's
Big Navy Plea
Campbell, of Kansas, Calls
Presidents Demand In
consistent With Pledges
Neto York Tribune
Washington Buredn

Washington Bureon
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4.-President
Wilson'S secret message urging the
adoption of the three-year naval build
ing programme was the subject of a
warm debate IN the House to-day dur
ing consideration of the naval appro-
prlatlon bill. Though severely grilled
by members of the House, who urged
that the letter be made public, Repre-
sentative Padgett, of Tennessee, chair
man of the Naval Affairs Committee.
declined to disclose the contents of the
Presidents communication, declaring
that 1T had been sent to him by the
Secretary of the Navy in confidence.
Chairman Padgett declared that the
reported phrase in the Presidents com
munication that failure to adhere to
the three-year building programme
would be fatal to my negotiations"
was inaccurate as to language. He
would not, however, deny that the
President had communicated this in
substance.
Representative Campbell, of Kansas,
lnquiring whether a cablegram to the
Secretary of the Navy, which was sub
sequently communicated to the House
Committee on Naval Affairs, was a
statement Of facts or q mere opinion
of the President, pointed out the ap-
parent inconsistency between the
Presidents championship of a large
naval programme in a secret commun-
cation and his activities at the peace
conference on behalf Of the league of
nations, disarmament and open diplo-
macy.
Explaining the circumstances which
led up to the Presidents communica-
ton, Chairman Padgett told the House
that he had informed Secretary
Daniels of the wide variance of opin-
ion regarding the future naval policy
among members of the House. In con-
sequence, Mr.. Padgett stated, the Sec
retary Of the Navy impaired this in
formation to the President and received
in reply the much discussed secret
communication. No member of the
Naval Affairs Committee, Mr.. Padgett
stated, so far as he knew. had cabled
the President or had received any cable
from him.
Longworth Joins Debate
Representative Longworth, of Ohio,
called the attention OF the House to
the language Of the Presidents last
message to Congress, in which he said:
81 shall be in close touch with you and
with affairs on this side Of the water,
and you will know all that do"
"The Secretary of the Navy cabled
the President said Mr.. Padgett, land
over there or if there had been any
development-I am giving it in sub
starce-that would change mis- recon-
mendation as to the three year pro-
granlme, and the President cabled back
in substance that he had not changed
his mind; that he still insisted and
desired very earnestly the threeyear
programme"
Mr.. Padgctt added nothing 10 this
information when questioned by Repre-
sentative Gillctt, of Massachusetts. as
TO whether the telegram Contained
any facts upon which the committee
could use its own judgment. or whether
it was simply an expression of opinion,
like the question of the Panama Canal
tolls"
All Based on Developments
He stated. however," said Mr.. Pad
gett, shat he was willing for a proviso
to be put in that IL there were any de-
Continued on nert page
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