Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1921-01-01
CALL TO NATIONS
FOR DISARMAMENT
PARLEY IS LIKELY
President Wilson Said to Be
About Ready to Issue
Invitation.
AUTHORITY is GIVEN
BY NAVY ACT OF 1916
Tremendous Sentiment Here for
Some Sort of Agreement by
Greater Powers.

Greater Powers.
Almost on the eve Of consideration of
disarmament resolutions by the Senate
foreign relations committee, a report
spread through Washington today that
President Wilson was about to issue an
invitation to the nations to Join in a
disarmament conference.
The President has specific authority
10 issue such a call Under the naval
appropriations act of 1916. as chief
executive of the United States he
could initiate movement for such
conference without legislative action.
have to approve any proposed pla n
for reduction of armament.
Report Given Impetus.
The report that the Presiden, was
planning to issue an invitation for
such an international conference was
given further impetus by the fact
that yesterday the President held a
long conference with Acting Secretary
OF ,i state Davis, and Mr.. Davis later
Coontz, u. S. n, chief Of naval opera
dons, to the State Department. 1t
was rumored about the departments
that the President had in mind act
ing under the authority conferred
on him by the naval appropriations
act of 1916.
Mr.. Davis said today. however. that
he had never talked with the Presi-
dent regarding this matter.
In adopting the great naval pro-
gram carried in the act of 1916 Con-
gress at the same time declared the
position of the United States to be
to adjust international disputes
n a n
The act said. referring to the
United States:
What Act Proposes.
TT looks with apprehension and dis
favor upon general increase OF
armament throughout the world. but
it realizes that no single nation can
dfsarm and that without common
agreement upon the subject every
considerable power must maintain a
relative standing in military strength. .
The act also said.
In view of the premises the Presi-
dent is authorized and requested to
invite at an appropriate time. not
later than the close of the war in
Europa. all the great governments OF
the world to send representatives to
q conference which shall be charged
with the duty of formulating a plan
for O. court OF arbitration or other
tribunal, to which disputed questions
O8IWcSu udtlOuS Snall Dc EcIerfoQ LOI
adjudication. and peaceful settlement.
and to consider the question of dis
armament and submit their recon-
mendations to their respective gov
ernments for approval"
The act provides an appropriation
OF 100000 to pay expenses of Ameri-
can delegates to the proposed con-
ference.
The President is given power to
suspend the American naval build
ing program under certain condi-
tions. The act said:
III at any time before the con-
struction authorized by this act shall
have been contracted for there shall
have been established with the CO.
operation of the United States OF
America an international tribunal or
tribunals competent tn secure peace
fuf determination of all international
disputes, and which shall render un-
necessary the maintenance Of COM
petitive ornaments, then in that case
such naval expenditures which may
be inconsistent with the engagements
made in the establishment OF sucl,
tribunal or tribunals may be sus-
pended. when So ordered by the
President Of the United States"
TIVE Resolutions in Hand.
The Senate foreign relations commit
tee has before it for consideration two
resolutions looking to a reduction of
armaments. One is the Borah resolu-
ton looking to an agreement by the
United States. Great Britain and Japan
for 80 per cent reduction in their
naval programs during the next five
years. The other is the Walsh resolu-
ton, requesting the President to name
of the United States to
act with the league Of nations commits
sion on disarmament.
Senator Borah Is member Of the
foreign relations committee, and he viii
press for favorable action on his reso-
luton at Mondays meeting. Senator
would appear before the committee
himself in support of his resolution.
A tremendous amount of sentiment
IN favor OF some agreement by the
powers to reduce armaments is de-
in Europe and Japan as well
IS in the United States. it is reported
here. The members of the Senate have
been polled, and also to a man those
who have been interviewed declare in
ravor Of some kind of an agreement
Tor the reduction OF arnaments.
The heavy burdens Of debt and taxa
ton upon the peoples Of the world.
due to the war. have been q powerful
factor in arousing this sentiment in
favor of disarmament If a substan-
tial reduction in armament could be
brought about. billions Of dollars
would be saved to the peoples, which
cOul0 De uSeo IN tne payment OF the
debts incurred and in productive ac-
tivity.
Argument Has Weight.
The fact that the United States, with
its vast resources and its finances un-
impaired compared to the nations Of
Europe, is in a position to go ahead
with a huge naval building program
il it desires is considered likely to
have much weight with other nations
in bringing assent to some kind of an
agreement for a reduction in arma-
nentS.
Unless some kind Of an interna-
tional agreement can be reached, the
leaders in the United States will insist
upon building up q Navy that will in
sure the defense of the United States
4 attack should ever come. Senators
who have expressed themselves as
heartily in favor OF a reduction-in-
plan said. however, that II
such an agreement was not reached,
hey desired to see the United States
continue to make adequate naval