The Washington herald., 1921-06-01
SENATE REFUSES
TO CUT $l5,OOO,OOO
FROM NAVAL Bill
Poindexter Insists u. S.
Navy Must Equal
British Fleet.

Notwithstanding its unanimously
expressed desire for an sinterna-
tional naval holiday, the senate yes
terday made IL emphatically plain
that the United States Is determined
to go the limit in naval building
unless Great Britain and Japan
agree to Join in proportionate re-
duction OF their programs
BY a vote of 35 To 20, IL rejected
an amendment offered by Senator
Lenroot of Wisconsin. republican, to
cut st5.0O0,000 from the appropria-
tion in the naval bill for carrying
out the program to make the United
States the foremost sea power in the
world by 1924. The Lenroot amend
rnent would have reduced the S53.-
600 900 appropriation for battleship
construction during the fiscal year.
1922, to s3S,0oo. 900. The total
amount carried in the bill for naval
construction is approximately s1e5.-
900 900
Insists on strong Navy.
In the debate preceding the vote
on the Lenroot amendment. Sena-
tor Poindexter, of Washington, act
ing chairman of the naval commit :
tee, served notice that the big
navy" faction which he represented
would insist that any international
naval reduction agreement entered
by the Bnited States most be based
on an American navy equal to that
of Great Britain. The senator init
mated that the disarmament advo-
Gates were. on the whole. carrying
On the tradition of pacifism which
opposed war with Germany when
Germany attempted to run amuck
on the high seas.
''lf We are to maintain a policy OF
peace with all the world. a peace
based on justice and the protection
OF the rights and lives of American
citizens, then We need a strong
navy" said Senator ,Poindexter.
Senator Lenroot argued that
there was no necessity for the
United States having the largest
navy in the world and said he saw
no reason for trying to outstrip
Great Britain. ..-..
Questions Poindexter View.
Does the senator think we are
to take of our hats every time we
meet Great Britain and bow" asked
StndloT fOlnutAltE
II am very glad to get the SEN
ator's real views gradually into
this debate" replied Senator Len
root. DO / understand the posi-
tion OF the senator from Washing
ton to be that he will not be will
ing to enter into any agreement for
limitation OF armaments unless In
that agreement it is stipulated that
the United states shall be the first
naval power in the world"
"On the contrary l do not want
the United States to be the first.
but / do want it to be the equal of
any other" answered Senator Poin-
dexter. 'I, myself, will not agree
to enter into any agreement of
limitation OF armament except upon
the basis that We shall be assured
that the United States will be SUBJ
stantially and practically equal to
any other power in the world upon
the seas"
President Puts Out -Feelers.s
While the senate was making
clear its stand, President Harding
let 1t be known that ne had feel
ers" out abroad regarding naval
curtailment before the senate
adopted the Borah amendment re-
questing the President to negotiate
with Great Britain and japan In
the matter. The President did not
give any details regarding these
'feelers," but it is presumed here
that he referred to informal con-
versations on the subject by Am
bassador Harvey with British Of
ficiais and the American charge
at Toky, ritb leaders of the lana
nese government.