New-York tribune., 1921-05-18
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Call to Pass
I'm Senate
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requested to invite the governments of
Great Britain and Japan TO send repre-
sentatives TO conference, which shall
be charged with the duty of promptly
entering into an understanding or
agreement by which the naval expen-
dltures and building programs of each
OF said governments, to wit, the United
States, Great Britain and Japan, shall
be substantially reduced annually dur
ing the next five years to such an ex-
tent and upon such terms as NAV be
agreed upon, which understanding or
agreement is to be reported to the
respective governments for approval"
1t is to be noted that any agreem ent
made IN such proposed conference
would have to be submitted back to the
respective governments for approval.
Nothing, therefore, could be done finally
without the assent of the President and
Congress.
The quick shift whereby it became
clear Senator Borah would win his
fight to have his amendment adopted
was the cause of much talk and specu-
!atlon IN Senate circles. President
| Harding opposed disarmament amend
tached there to the naval bill. How
ever, the amendment proposed rhera
was intended to hold up construction
pending disarmament negotiations.
The Borah amendment does not 90 so
far. IL is stated on authority that
PRESIDENT Harding preferred that the
Borah amendment should not be
adopted In the Senate. Senator Borah.
however, backed by strong group of
Senators, went ahead and opened the
fight for 1t. AT the same time various
women's organizations are carrying on
a campaign IN the country fer dis
armament.
Harding Refused to Fight Plan
Senate Republican leaders found out
after few days of attacks on the
naval bill that they would be defeated
in their efforts to block the amend
ment unless the President made a
pupilc statement against it. Senator
folndexter wrote the President to this
effect The President did not wish to
60 to the point of making fight on
the amendment and so advised Poin-
aeAtet' 1hereupon the Senate leaders.
perceivlng the Borah amendment would
command majority, decided TO dron
1he effort to prevent its adoption.
Senator Harrison, of Mississipni in
snort colloquy on the floor tried Ia
draw out of Senator Poindexter iuef
what had passed between him and the
President. ''e
am not authorized to speak for the
Presldent," said Senator Poindexter
senator harrison sought to find ont
"ny Ihere had been q change of atti
luue toward the Borah amendment, and
phether the President and Senator
Iolndexter had consulted and reached
such conclusion. In answer to his
9uestions senator Poindexter said
nothing Of public nature" had been
exchanged between himself and the
White House.
Senator Pomerene requested that no
polns OF order be raised against his
disarmament amendment, which looks
TO temporary halt Of construction
senator Poindexter indicated he con-
sented. However, it is expected the
senate will defeat the Pomerene plan
and adopt the Borah suggestion. it is
probable the Borah amendment will
not only be adopted by the Senate, but
VIII be retained in conference of the
two houses and put into the bill.
Senators Attack Naval Increase
For several days Senators Borab
King, Norris, La Toilette and Kenvon
have assa9led the Senate Naval Affairs
Committee increases in the naval biu
amounting to s10O,Oo0,0oo The meas.
ure would thus be expanded to nearly
half billion dollars. Other Senators
were preparing to come to their sup
port. Senator Reed was arming for the
attack. Signs were plenty of fiji
buster and long delay in passing the
bill 1t was partly in order to terminate
the debate that Senate leaders CON
ciuded to allow the Borah amendment
to go into the bill.
Senator Poindexter said tonight he
hoped for final action on the measure
tomorrow.
Senators King, Borah and La Toilette
spoke this afternoon in opposition to
the Naval Affairs Committee increases.
senator klng called the program de-
vised in 1915 archaic"
Senator Borah said ne had no thought
OF advocating naval disarmament or
reduction for the United States "stand-