The Birmingham age-herald., 1921-05-14
HARD|NG'S
 ON DISARMAMENT :. UP FOR DEBATE
Is Not Opposed to International Conference, Says Borah, But Hale Thinks Differently of
 Presidents View
By Associated Press

Washington, May 13.-President liar ding's attitude toward the proposal of Senator Borah, republican. Idaho, for a naval disarmament conference between Great Britain, Japan and the United States was brought into question in the Senate today during debate on the half billion dollar naval appropriation bill.
 Senator Borah said the President had not indicated any opposition during a recent conference on the subject, while Senator Hale, republican, Maine, who also discussed the Borah amendment with Mir Harding a few days ago. declared the President thought action by Con- gress unnecessary.
 Because of the Presidents statement to him, Senator Boran said he had paid little attention to published state- ment of Senator Poihdexter, republican,, Washington, in charge of the naval bill that the President opposed the disarma- ment suggestion,
 Senator Hale replied that he had ac- companied Senator Poindexter to the White House few days ago. We talked over the question of disarmament he said. and 1 gathered from what was said there that the President thought 1t was not necessary for Congress to go ahead in this way with the resolution.
 WELCOMES STATEMENT
 Senator Borah replied that he would De glad to have statement from Senator Po.ndexter, who was not in the chamber at the time. and then he could and would relate in detail what the President had told him on the subject.
 | tL hA ther during debate. possibly tomorrow, was indicated. It also was intimated that President Harding might give for nal expression of his views on the sub i! ject.
 The appropriation bill was at conl- | plete standstill all day, while broadsides were fired by advocates of the Borah proposal. Addresses in favor of the dis armament amendment were made by Senators Borah and Norris, republicans Nebraska; Kenyon, republican, Iowa King democrat Utah, and Heflin, demo- crat Alabama Senator Overman, demo- l crat North Carolina, also spoke briefly | in favor of the disarmament conference plan. g.N Senator Borah denied that his ameEd-
 ment would constitute direction to the President. He emphasized that II merely would request the President to
  Japan confer with American representa- | tives on disarmament.
 POINT TO PRECEDENT l That Congress had taken action similar ] to the. Borah plan when it attached the ] rider to the 1916 naval appropriation bill 1 authorizing President Wilson to call . l disarmament conference was stressed by I Senators King and Heflin. Senator King 1 said he was amazed" at reports that President Harding opposed the Borah amendment
 T deny the right of the President, he said, to nterpose and prevent Congress from expressing views on a great aues- ton like this. When did 1t become an offense for Congress to express us views on such a subjectg
 Senator King recalled that the Boran plan was adopted unanimously by the Senate during the last session as sep arate resolution, while Senator Heflin de- clared that Congress could not derend refusal or failure to take this step to- ward peace." MT. Heflin also deplored any attempt to smother to death a measure which means peace. The disarmament advocates had the Senate forum virtually to themselves to- day and stressed considerations of econ on,y iuf military expenditures and de- plored any attempt to enter naval com petition with other powers
 Senator Borah and also Senator Ken yon declared that the people Of Great Britain favored curtailment Of military expenditures.