The Washington herald., 1921-05-18
OPPONENTS YIELD
TO BORAH'S DRIVE
FOR DISARMAMENT
Administration Senators
Withdraw Objections
to Amendment.

W ZhIttSktu1kkSItLs
The administration yesterday un-
expectedIy abandoned its fight
against the Eorah disarmament
amendment pending in the Senate
in connection with the $500. 900 900
naval bill.
Indications are that the amend
ment requesting President Harding
to open negotiations with Great
Britain and Japan for an agree
ment to curtaiI naval building will
be adopted with very little opposi-
tion. The House, in all probability.
will agree to it promptly with the
administration ban removed.
Carried Mt Last Session
1t is believed that the Presidents
purpose to have Ambassador Har-
vey approach the subject Of dis
armament before the supreme coun-
ell may Rave had something to do
with a change in the administra-
tion's viewpoint. In the closing
days of the last session, Senator
Borah's disarmament amendment
met with vigorous. opposition at
first but finally carried by a vir'
tually unanimous vote. The naval
bill. however. was killed by a hli-
buster.
Numerous disarmament amend
mcnts were offered in the House
when the naval bill was again
brought forward at the present ses-
sion. House leaders prevailed upon
members to vote them down on the
plea that they would embarrass
President Harding in tho direction
Of international affairs.
Rejected by Committee.
When the bill reached the Senate,
however, Senator Borah promptly
re-offered his amendment and gave
notice that he would move to sus-
pend the rules to make it in order.
Senator Poindexter. of Washington,
acting chairman of the Naval AZ
fairs Committee. and Senator Hale.
of Maine, another member of the
naval com1ittee. conferred with
President Harding at the White
House and announced that the
President wanted an absolutely free
hand in the initiation of foreign
policy. Several days later the ma
val committee rejected the Borah
amendment.
A spirited fight in behalf of the
Borah amendment has been going
on in the Senate during the past
few days 1t became apparent that
a considerable number of Rspub-
lican Senators in conjunction with
almost all the Democrats were de-
termined to support the measure,
despite the Naval Committees re-
port OF the Administrations atti-
tude; furthermore. some of the
strongest administration supporters
made no concealment of the en-
barrassment they would feel were
they compelled to vote against iden-
ticaIly the same measure which they
supported in the last hours of the
Wilson administration.
Statement by Poindexter.
Senator Poindexter wrote a let
ter to the President Describing the
situation. He declined to say what
reply he had received. but he made
this statement:
IT have not received anything in
dlcating any need or reason for
making a point Of order against
or opposing the Borah resolution
or amendment. Personally, / am
heartily in favor of an international
limitation OF armament upon a ba-
sis which will do justice to the
United States and nat imperil our
national safety. and I think that
every possible means of bringing
that about should be tried. OF
course, 1t would be, I thinE, very
Unwise. in fact. a very great be-
trayal Of our trust, IL we abandon
the national defense in advance of
such an international agreement"
Senator Harrison OF Mississippi.
Democrat. wanted to know whether
it could be possible that the Pres
ident had come round to Senator
Borah's way of thinking" Senator
Borah said he did pot know.
Favors AirpIane Carrier.
The House Naval Affairs Commit
tee yesterday ordered a favorable
report on the Hicks bill authoriz-
ing the immediate construction Of
one airplanr carrier. estimated to
cost $4,000 900.
The bill follows the lines OF the
Senate amendment to the navy ap-
preparation bill. which, however. att
thorizes construction of two ar
riers.
The Senate amendment and the
House bill both provide for tn" CEN
collation. OF the construction Of
twelve torpedo boat destrnyers in
Clud"d in the 1916 building pro-
gram, 70 meet the cost of the car
rier. The destroyers would have
cost approximately s2.1oo,ooo each. !