Evening star., 1921-04-29
The House and Disarmament.

II the action Of the House yesterday,
when, in passing the naval approprla-
ton bill by an overwhelming vote. all
disarmament amendments were de-
feated by vociferous choruses OF
noes" is to be taken as indication OF
the attitude of Congress on d1sarma'
ment itself. there would indeed be
grounds for anxiety on the part OF
sober minds throughout the nation.
The bill. carrying appropriations OF
s396, 200, 900 for expanding and run
ming the naval establishment, begin
ming July l. was passed by a vote OF
212 to 10. House members, nearly to
4 man, enthusiastically supported the
800, 900, 900 plan of c0<npleting the 1916
building program a.hd voted to con-
tinue to run the hige naval machine
at a cost Of more than S30o,0o0,ooO
year. Nearly to a man they turned a
deaf ear to the proposal to make the
appropriation in any way dependent
upon the calling Of an international
conference for armament limitation.
Yet, surface appearances to the con-
trary notwithstanding. the action
taken in no wise implies congressional
disapproval & a concerted move by
England, Jaian and the United States
for a joint seduction Of their arma-
ments.
Indeed, the action Of the House was.
with or without conscious purpose.
conducive to a satisfactory outcome
to such a move. 1t indicated only the
determination of the United States to
60 to the coming disarmament con-
ference as the nation best equipped to
continue the race in armament. yet
most willing to evidence its desire for
world peace by foregoing whatever
advantages it holds as the pacemaker
in that race. 1t demonstrated only the
congressional judgment that to cut
our armament programs before
other nations are pledged to do so
would be highly inexpedient. 1t did
not imply, even by indirection. any
aversion to the plan which. perhaps
more than any other, may lift from
the shoulders of the peoples OF the
world a considerable portion Of the
crushing tax burden, without leopard
izing to the slightest extent the Sc
curity Of any individual nation.
Whether or not some expression by
the House at the time Of passing the
bill as to the advisability Of calling a
disarmament conference would have
been regarded by the President as a
favor or an embarrassment Is a mat
ter Of opinion. and changes in no de-
gree the wisdom Of continuing the
current naval policy UP to the time
when we may. without hint Of a self.
ish motive, change it, in conjunction
with other leading powers. for the
benefit Of mankind in general
1t may be assumed that the Presi-
dent is fully aware Of the ever-increas-
ing demand in this country for some
action on his part looking toward
conversation with Great Britain and
Japan on the question Of joint arma-
ment reduction. 1t is certain that he
requires no congressional recommen.
dation to justify him in taking the
necessary steps to open such conver.
sations.
The House, by its action yesterday,
evidenced a determination to continue
the United States in the position Of
the nation best fitted to do So Cause
for concern will only arise should the
President demonstrate that he does
not propose to seize the exceedingly
favorable opportunity which now pre-
sents itself.