Evening star., 1921-05-27
HOUSE WANTSARMY
CUT WITH THE NAVY
President Ready to Sign Any
Disarmament Measure
Congress Works Out.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Harding and Representa-
tive Mondell. republican leader of the
House. have practically agreed that il
any expression is made by the Con-
greSs of the United States on the sub
ject of disarmament it ought TO in
clude not merely the reduction OF
naval armament, but the land arma
-ment as well.
Mr.. Mondeil today asked the Presi-
dents advice on . situation which has
arisen in the House. which must now
pass upon the Borah resolution
unanimously adopted by the Senate
and providing merely that the United
States consult with Japan and Grea,
Britain about the reduction of naval
armament.
The House membership. general,
speaking. feels that the Borab resoiu-
ton is not broad enough. and that mol
only the naval, but the military forces
of the world. should be reduced ir
size. in order that the tax burden may
be less everywhere and economic re.
construction thus aided
Would Broaden Scope.
Again and again the House has ex.
naval holiday or general Gisarma-
mcnt. and Representative Moadell
told the President that he believed
the House would like TO broaden the
scope Of the Borah resolution. He in
quired if Mr.. Harding had any objec-
the President would sign any reso-
luton which the leaders of both
houses worked out.
The President is committed to dis
armament-so are all the republican
leaders-but the method and form OF
reaching conclusion on this vital
subject has brought out some differ
erces of opinion. Fundamentally there
was no objection to Mr.. Borah's pur-
pose. bu; il was felt that the subject
was one that should be left to the
President 10 work out in his own way
Condition Ia Faced.
But. as Mr.. Mondell explained today
not a theory which faces the House
For the Senate has unanimously
adopted the Borah resolution. The
House cannot ignore that vote. Nor
does j; desire 10 do SO If the execu-
tive is ready to proceed with the
movement for disarmament. The
House has merely waited upon the
wishes of the President.
Mr.. Mondell found the President
ready to proceed with the disarma- :
.ment plan and. therefore the leaders
Of the two houses will work out a
compromise resolution which will au-
thoriZe the President to call a con-
ference Of the nations of the world
to discuss the reduction of land and
sna arma ments. and will leave it to
MIR. Harding's discretion to say what
nations shall be invited and when tn e
conference shall take place.
Tackle Whole Subject.
In other words. although il was not
deemed advisable at first even to pass
the Borah resolution. the passage OF
that measure by the Senate has hast
ened the decision OF the administra-
tion. to tackle the subject of disa rma :
ment as A whole. And it will be the
purpose of the Senate and House lead
ers to draft a resolution which will
express the opinion of the Congress of
the United States Tn such emphatic
terms as will assist psychologically
the entire. disarmament movement
throughout the world.
The President and Mr.. Mondell talk.
ed over the phraseology of the peace
resolution which will be passed by
the House in a few days and Mr. Hard
ing expressed no objection to the Por-
ter resolution, which differs from the
Knox proposal in that it eliminate es
the clause repeating the original dec
Iaration of war.
fconr,;rht 1907