New-York tribune., 1921-02-12

be made public, as it was likely to
iead to Misunderstanding
Senator Borah replied that if it were
true that Great Britain, after borrow
ing heavily from the United States, was
row circulating false propaganda" it
was unfriendly and reprehensible, and
the facts ought to be made known to
the American people.
II say" pursued Senator Borah
that that kind of evidence under no
conceivable theory of diplomacy ought
to be withheld. My owl. opinion is that
the facts are not there and that there
is no basis for the reports
Senator Brandegee, in the course of
the discussion, expressed the hope that
such reports were without basis, be-
cause if true they would constitute
"a nefarious breach of courtesy" and
indicate q policy inimical to this
country.
Would Curb Capital Ships
Senator Borah's speech was in the
nature of forerunner of the utter
ances he will make VIA n the naval ap-
preparation bill comes up. He intends
when that bill arises to make a strong
effort to compel cutting down of the
sums allowed for capital ships and to
force larger expenditures on subma-
rines and aircraft. AS the naval bill
may be deliberately put over until the
new Congress, so as to avoid fight at
this time, and inasmuch as he desired
to speak out against the recent report
of the Naval Affairs Committee while
the subject is fresh in mind, Senator
Borah took the floor while the legisla-
tive bill, involving other than navy sub
jects, was before the Senate.
H. r
findings of the Naval Affairs Commit
and stood by the capital ship and the
general board.
He said he did not believe the
United States had given sufficient con-
sideration to the question. He said
that in the great war, Germany had
enlisted in her submarine service 10,-
900 men. They carried on submarine
warfare in spite of the British grand
feet, supported by the fleets of France,
Italy, the Urited States and Japan.
"And they came very near winning
the war and brought Great Britain to
the verge of starvation" said Senator
Bcrah.
Senator Thomas interrupted to say
that the submarine menace was not
met by battleships, but by new meth
DDS.
Battleship Building Halted
Senator Borah said he believed TIC
view different from the accepted view
should be presented, though he did not
assume to say it was the correct view.
But he did want the whole subject
studied. He asserted that in England
not single capital ship had been LAID
down since the battle of Jutland and
that the whole subject of what mod
ern fighting navy is had been referred
to the committee on imperial defense.
He said France and Italy had not
built any capital ships since the end
Of Tire war.
Senator Borah then read from Ad,
miral Hall, Admiral Henderson and
other British naval authorities to sus-
Senator Gerry, of Rhode Island, of
the Naval Committee, insisted the
British First Lord of the Admiralty
has spoken in favor of the capital ship.
Senator Hitchcock wanted to know
whether the Senator from Idaho saw
anything in the fact Great Britain had
apparently abandoned the policy Of
building capital ships while Japan has
adopted exactly the opposite policy.
Japan's Activity Cited
"Japan is building submarines and
oerfecting airplanes ALSO" said Sena-
ror Borah. 81 am reliably informed
chat the Japanese are availing them
selves of the experience of the war and
building submarines and airplanes.
Senator Hitchcock saw significance
in the fact that Japan would have a
powerful battleship feet in the Pacific
and England would have powerful air
and submarine feet.
Senator Brandegee called attention
to dispatches showing the Japanese
Diet had just voted to go ahead with
the naval program as planned and had