Evening star., 1921-02-10
HARDING AND ROOT
WIN NAVY DISPUTE
Convinced Congress 1t Would
Be Unwise to Stop Building
Warships Just Now.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Harding and Elihu Root. both of
whom advised republican leaders in
Congress that it would be unwise to
commit America for the present to
a reduction of naval armament final
mittee on naval affairs has recon-
mended that construction on ships
already authorized be continued un-
til an international disarmament
agreement makes it safe to do other
wise.
About the time that Senator Borah
began his campaign for a three
rarty agreement whereby Japan. the
United States and Great Britain
would agree to reduce naval arma-
ment the movement in Congress to
cut down naval appropriations on
ships already under construction be-
gan to grow to an alarming extent.
One day a republican member of
Congress happened to be calling
upon Secretary Daniels at the Navy
Department
I'm going to Marion tomorrow
said the republican member, with a
smile. Any message to Senator
Harding?"
Daniels Sends Harding Tip.
Yes replied Mr.. Daniels. with
twinkle in his eye. tell Harding to
IL
by the time he's inaugurated-the
fellows on the Hill are liable to take
II away from him before he gets
chance to negotiate for disarmament"
Several days later the same view
was brought to President elect Hard
ing from other quarters. The plan of
having Elihu Root write a letter to
members of the House committee on
naval affairs was adopted in order to
prevent acton in the House that
might embarrass Mr.. Harding when
he took Office. Similarly, conferences
with Senate leaders ensued, and Mr..
Harding made it plain that it would
be unwise. for the United States to
take the Initiative in disarmament
when there was no assurance concern
ing the attitude of other powers, and
that it would be particularly embar-
RAISING If the United states scrapped
her Navy and then sat down to the
table with the other powers in an
attempt to induce them to do like
wise.
Views of President Elect.
Mr. Harding took the view that the
United States would have much more
influence at a disarmament confer
build the ships which had already
been authorized. but il she showed
the world that she would continue to
expand her Navy unless an absolute
agreement were entered into relieving
the peoples of the world of the bur-
dene OF taxation which q naval build
ing race would entail.
The action of the Senate naval af-
fairs committee. in contending that
the United States must have a navy
"at least equal to that of any other
power" is not a jingoistic obserya-
ton. nor the beginning Of any naval
istic ambitions aimed at Great Britain
or any other power. 1t is. on the other
hand, part Of the republican policy
Of compelling disarmament by build
ing up to the naval strength of any
other power. SO that the. example of
the United States and Great Britain.
in agreeing jointly to reduce arma-
ments may be followed by powers Of
lesser naval strength.
Other Expenses to he Cut.
Having succeeded in suspe ending for
the present the movement in Congress
to curtail building appropriations. 1t
is to be expected that naval expendi-
lures of other kinds will be sharply
pr9ned. Although Mr.. Borah and
others probably will not consent to
be silent on disarmament proposals.
the chance of action by the present
problem has been left for the next
President of the United States. who
really wanted 1t handled that way SO
he might have powerful lever in his
hrat negotiations on foreign policy.
Great Britain. aware Of Mr.. Hard
ines views. promptly called Sir Auck-
land Geddes. British ambassador here,
for a conference abroad with the
prime minister and the British cabinet.
When Sir Auckland left the United
States he knew that the whole ques-
ton Of disarmament would come up in
the very beginning Of the Harding
administration and that he could
spend the month Of February in no
better way than in formulating pro-
posals for Mr.. Hardings consideration
during the month of March
Begins Disarmanent Program.
Although the supremacy Of the seas
is something dear to the heart Of every
Englishman. the argument that in
terna;ionaI exchange will improve and
that the financial burdens OF the Brit
ish public will be made considerably
lighter by naval building agreement
with the United States, makes an ef-
fective appeal perhaps not to senti-
ment, but to sound economics on both
sides of the Atlantic.
The report of the Senate naval af-
fairs committee does not mean con-
tinued naval expansion, however am
bilious sounding II may be. 1t does
mean the beginning of disarmament
program and less taxation. for there is
every reason to believe Great Britain
means to cooperate with the United
states in reducing the size OF national
budgets in world struggling despe-
rateIy to get back to normal