New-York tribune., 1921-03-02
President Is Unanimously
Requested to Arrange
for Conference With
Great Britain and Japan
Action Follows
A Secret Session
Lodge Warns of Peril in
Pacific in Appeal for
Keeping Strong Navy
From The Tribune's Wnsb;,o,o, p,x.


WASHINGTON, March 1.-Thc SEN
ate unanimously tonight called on the
President to convoke an international
conference on naval disarmament.
The call was embodied in an amend
ment to the Naval Appropriation bill
which had been under fire all afternoon
ana evening, much of the time in ex-
ccutlyc session. The proposal. brought
forth originally by Senator Borah Of
idaho, was moved as an amendment bv
senator Edge, of New Jersey, with
unanimous consent. Under the amend
ment the President would invite Great
britain and Japan to Join with the
United States in discussions looking
toward a naval building holiday.
Struggle over the navy appropriation
Dill took new turn this afternoon
when Senator Lodge suddenly moved
that the Senate proceed to the con-
slderation Of business "in secret
legislative session.
Senator Lodge did not explain the
purpose OF this move. and the Senate.
after call for a quorum, closed the
doors and the galleries were cleared
Then followed, in secret. nrotracted
DEBATE over the naval bill, with espe-
clal reference to the country's inter
national combinations.
senator Lodge IN a speech discussed
with 1rankness the conditions in the
iIaclhc' including the friction caused
by the occupation of the Island Of Yap
Dy the Japanese. He urged the seri-
business OF the complications in the
racine as reason for a strong navy
ana TOR the passage OF the pending bill.
Mr. Lodge, who is chairman of the
Foreign Relations Committee, advised
the Senate in detail OF the revelations
concerning the Yap situation and the
racine situation as made by Under
Secretary Norman II. Davis of the State
Department some weeks ago.
Williams Charges Coercion
Senators Poindexter, Swanson and
other advocates of the bill backed nm
Senator Lodge. On the other hand.
Senator John Sharp Williams criticized
Senator Lodge for bringing about the
secret session and took the ground
the purpose Of it was to frighten the
Senate into passing the naval bill. Sen
ators Borah and King took substan-
TALLY the same position.
Details of the debate were lacking.
bu' 1T was learned that almost the
whole range Of international relations
was covered and special emphasis was
laid on the Japanese aggressivenes in
naval and commercial development in
the Pacific.
The charge was made by Senators
opposed to the bill that the purpose
of the secret legislative session was
psych illogical, for the purpose of driv-
ing the Senate into support Of the $780,
100000 naval bill, reported out of the
Naval Affairs Committee. That there is
filibuster on to defeat the measure
is clear Senator Poindexter said after
the secret session, which lasted for tw O
hours and a half, beginning shortly
af '.er 4 o'clock, that the flibuster was
still going on. He said he would per-
sist in the effort to pass the DILL. After
the secret session the Senate met in
open session and the struggle over the
bill was resumed.
After the secret legislative session
Senator Borah said that in view Of
what happened therein he was more
than ever convinced it would be i'm
possible to pass the bill.
Edge Offers Disarming Plan
Senator Edge, following the secret
session, offered an amendment looking
to gradual reduction of armements by
the United States, Great Britain and
Japan for the next five years. This was
taken up and discussed, and France and
Italy added 1t is similar to the Borah
naval reduction plan.
The Senate was occupied most of the
day and far into the night in discuss
ing the navy and the navy bill. De-
termincd opposition was manifested to
the measure as reported from the
Naval Affairs Committee.
Senator Poindexter spoke early in the
day in reply to Senator Borah. In the
course of his utterances he referred to
the fact that the foreign relations OF
the United States were "critical," and
lie brought up the subject of Yap.
"The United States," he said. "is con
Continued next pase)