The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-05-24
CONGRESS TO DELAY
NAVAL PROGRAMME
Military Establishment Also
to Await Peace Treaty
Developments.
DEPEND UPON LEAGUE
Reported Division of German
Navy Causes Ire at Wash
ington.
DEPEND UPON LEAGUE
Special Despatch to The Sun.


WASHINGTON, May. 23.-Both the mill
itary and naval policies of the nation
to be defined by the legislation adopted
by the present Republican Congress- will
walt for months before final decision Is
made on the essential details This can
be stated on the authority of the chair
men Of the committees which will ham
die this legislation.
AS a matter of fact no effort will he
made between now and JULY 1. when
the next fiscal year Of the Governmant
begins TO do other than pass appropria-
ton bills for the maintenance of the
military and naval establishments for
the coming year. No provision Tor
building battleships. no effort to Law the
foundation for another three year pro-
sramme and no effort to determine
whether universal training shall be
adopted In any form is to be thought OF
at present.
Not only the few weeks left before
July l when the appropriations are es-
sentiai. but the delay in obtaining
knowledge of what sort Of conditions
viii be laid down by the peace treaty
are operating to delay this action BY
Congress. II may be that despite every
indication tho League of Nations COW
enaht may be ratified by the Senate, II
was pointed out and as this contains
provision for Limitation Of ornaments
the naval and military policies might
both be affected by It.
The naval bill provides for the in
auguration of another three year battle
snip building programme and this was
accompanied by provision that the
PRESIDENT could halt the programme al
any time II he found It was Interfering
with his conception Of what the League
or Nations restriction meant As the
programme authorized in 1915 by Con-
sress Is only now beginning, Republi-
can members of the Naval Committee
feel that II would be silly to authorize a
whole lot more ships and put cost limita-
tons and so on In the bill because when
the time comes to construct them naval
warfare might have progressed to the
point where the ships authorized would
be of no value.
Also these committees want to know
just what ships the United States Will
receive in cutting up the German battle
fleet 1t has been reliably reported tc
them that the President has consented
to Great Britain receiving II capita
ships and 60 destroyers, France 4
capital ships and 40 destroyers, while
the United States would receive, 20 de-
stroyers and nothing else. These com.
mittee members are as mad as hornets
about this and want to ask the Secretary
OF the Navy. after the President returns
and confldes In him. Just how willing.
ness to let the United States be frozen
out" by this agreement can be made
to square with the Presidents announced
determination that the navy of the
United States should be second to none
Secretary Daniels will go before the
House Naval Committee Monday morn
ing for preliminary discussions ne
will not be prepared to discuss build.
ms plans at that time, however, AS he
has determined to withhold recommen,
dalton on this point until the report and
recommendations of the General Board
are before him.