The Washington times., 1921-01-09
NAVAL POLICY
WA|TSHARD|NC
Attitude OF President-elect to
Influence Disarmament
Hearings in House.
BY DAVID VI. CHURCH.
International News Service.

wv W. DSsNsNS
The future attitude of the United
States with regard TO disarmament
probably will be divulged this week.
The House Naval Affairs Commit
tee on Tuesday will institute hear
ings on the question.
Chairman Butler of the Naval az
fairs Committee yesterday conferred
with President-elect Harding. and it
IL believed that when he returns to
Washington this week he will be
able to forecast accurately the views
of the President-elect with regard
TO disarmament
HARDING's ATTITUDE.
Senator Harding is expected to urge
no steps be taken for disarmament at
this time, and II is believed he will
seek TO proceed with the present naval
building program The President
elect has frequently announced him
self in favor of navy sufficiently
adequate to protect the American
merchant marine. In addressing more
than n thousand sailors at Hampton
Roads on his return from Panama,
Senator Harding said that he favored
nlcnt. and indicated that he expects
a large American navy for some time
to come.
II is confidently expected here that
Senator Harding will recommend
actual negotiations for disarmament
be deferred until the question OF
peace and a possible association OF
nations has been settled.
Secretary OF the Navy Daniels will
be the first witness called in the dis
armament inquiry, and he announced
today that he will lay before the com
mittee all available data gathered by
the Naval Intelligence relative to the
strength OF the uavies OF the world.
This data, il is understood, will show
that If the present naval program OF
the United States is continued, the
United States navy will be the great
est in the world In point OF num-
bcrs in 1923, but at the same time the
Secretary will point out that the navy
Of Great Britain will maintain it's
power through its greater variety OF
lighting ships.
Secretary Daniels will continue his
fight against disarmament and will
urge upon the committee that this
nation continue to build ships as long as
Great Britain and Japan enjoy a de-
fensive treaty.
Unqualified disapproval OF all the pres
ent proposed plans for naval disarma-
ment by Great Britain. Japan and the
United States will be voiced by Secre-
tary Daniels when he appears before the
committee.
Plans outlined in the Borah resolu-
ton now pending in the Senate for
an alliance composed OF the three
countries for discrimination of the
naval programs of each will be most
bitterly attacked by the secretary.
He also will go on record as opposed
to the plan of disarmament unless II
Is supported without qualification and
participated in universally.
The secretary believes the combi-
nation OF the three powers would DO
considered by the rest OF the world as
an Anglo Saxon alliance against the
rest OF the world, with Japan joining
for self protection. The secretary Is
of the view that the only means by
which disarmament might be accom-
Dlished Is to have an agreement
among the powers OF the world, with
no nation being assured supremacy
at the time of the cessation OF the
naval building programs.
ECONOMICS INVOLVED.
TIE cessation OF the building pro-
grams Is considered TO he but a
matter OF time by the Secretary.
He contends the present expensive
race for naval leadership will not
continue because of the economic
condition of the world. Rather than
to discontinue without making all
nations party, the contest should
continue. he will tell the committee.
The committee will use its efforts
to determine the actual sentiment
in Great Britain and Japan with
regard to disarmament, and the IA
Lilities OF the state Department will
he used for this purpose. Unofficial
advices reaching members OF Con-
gress indicate while Great Britain
IL anxious for naval holiday.
opinion is divided in Japan and any
negotiations for disarmament might
lead to prolonged conversations with
the Japanese government.
While IT is the purpose OF the
Naval Affairs Committee to no
deeply into the question OF disarma-
ment. members admit there Is little
likelihood Of any steps in that di-
rsction for some time