New-York tribune., 1921-06-30
Attitude More Important
Than PhraseoIogy, Says
Presidents Note, Read
Before Vote Is Taken
Decision Assures
Navy Bill Passage
Favorable Senate Action
To-day, and Signature
of Executive, Forecast
From. The Tribune's Washington Bureou

From. The Tribane's Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, June 29.-The
entire issue of disarmament was sud-
denly cleared this afternoon SO far
as Congress is concerned. when the
House adopted by the almost unani-
nous vote of $50 to A the Borah
amendment to the navy appropria-
ton bill.
This action, which brings about a
complete agreement between the
House and Senate on the navy meas
ure and assures It's enactment be-
fore the beginning of the new fiscal
year, July 1, Immediately followed
communication to the Congress of
the first formal statement by Presi.
dent Harding on the question of an
international agreement for limita-
tion of armament.
Letter Read Before Vote
The President outlined his attitude
in letter to Majority Leader Mon
dell, which was read to the House a
few minutes before the vote was
taken on the Borah amendment. In
it he made clear his belief that IA
vorable action by Congress on dis
armament resolution is more impor-
tant than the form of expression.
This significant statement is be-
lieved to be directly responsible for
the unexpectedly heavy support
given the Boran plan and the failure
of the Porter following to put up a
fight for the broader Porter disarnas
arnent resolution.
Action by the House in agreeing to
the navy bill is expected to be followed
tomorrow by the Senate passing the
measure, and it will then go to the
White House for the signature of the
President.
The text of the Presidents letter
follows: -
the questions in disagreement be-
tween the two houses of Congress
on the naval bill, and ] understand
they are in process of adjustment,
but that some difficulty has been ex-
perienced in arriving at satisfac-
tory agreement with regard TO the
language to be used in expressing
the favorable attitude of the Con-
gress toward efforts to secure inter-
national agreements for the limita-
tion of armaments.
"a number of members of Con-
gress have been good enough to in
quire as to the form of expression
on the part of Congress which might
seem most advisable from an ADJ
ministration viewpoint.
81 have said to inquirers, as am
now pleased to say to you, that it is
not of particular concern TO the Adj
ministration what form of express
sion Congress shall take, though
it is most agreeable that Congress
shall express itself in favor of se-
curing, if possible, an international
agreement upon a program for the
limitation of ornaments.
Negotiations to Continue
"I think it has been pretty we'll
understood that the administrative
branch of the government has al
ready been seeking information with
regard to the attitude of foreign
nations on the general subject of
disarmament. These inquiries and
negotiations will be continued, and
the time and manner in which the
matter may be formally presented to
foreign governments can be deter
mined only after the fuller develop
ment of inquiries already initiated.
"1t is wholly desirable to have the
expression of favorable opinion on
the part OF Congress relating to this
world question, and it would seem to
me ample if it should be expressed
in the broadest and most general
terms.
Il am vastly more concerned with
the favorable attitude of the Con-
gress on this question than / am
as to the form of expressing that
attitude. You may be sure that the
Executive will be ready to give every
consideration to such expression as
the members of the two houses Of
Congress find themselves disposed to
make"
One Republican Against
OF the four members who voted
against the Borah amendment three
were Democrats and one a Republican.
They We're: Democrats, Campbell. of
Pennsylvania; Carew, of New York.
and o'Brien, of New Jersey. Republi-
can: Moores, of Indiana.
representative Patrick H. Kelley "a
Michigan, chairman of the appronriar
tions subcommittee on the navy wb7
was IN charge of the navy bill. mad
the motion that the House rece3e : NJ
| concur in the Borah amendment
Immediately tha entire RenubI;ea,