New-York tribune., 1921-01-21
Borah Resolution for Pact
) With Britain and Japan
to Reduce Naval Pro.
grams Is Reported d
50 p. C.. Maximum
Cut Stricken Out
Action of Foreign Rela-
tions Committee Sten
in World Movement


WASHINGTON, Jan. 20.-The Borah
resolution requesting the President to
take up with Great Britain and Japan
the question of reduction of naval
ornaments was ordered favorably re-
ported with amendments to-day by the
Senate Committee on Foreign Rela-
tions. At the same time the Walsh
resolution on disarmament was defeat
ed, and motion by Senator Pomerene
to include the essential part of the
Walsh resolution in the Borah resolu-
tion was likewise turned down. The
action to-day on the Borah resolution
is considered q definite step toward in
ternational disarmament.
Senator McCumber, of North Dakota,
offered a motion to include France and
Italy in the naval reduction program.
This was defeated in committee with
out roll call.
Senator Borah will report the reso-
luton to the Senate promptly and will
endeavor to bring it up for considera-
tion at an early date. 1t is a Joint
resolution and will have to pass the
House and be signed by the President
before it is effective.
Knox Would Postpone Action
Inasmuch as many Republicans would
prefer to see any program of naval re-
duction or OF disarms ment await the
incoming Of the new Administration, it
is regarded as unlikely the resolution
will be adopted by the Senate at this
session. Senator Knox is one of the
leaders who hold that the resolution
should await the new Administration.
7 Senator Lodge is of the same view. The
matter has close relationship to the
general foreign policy Of the new Ad-
ministration, as we'll as to the naval
policy.
The resolution, as the committee
ordered it reported, is as follows:
Resolved by the Senate and House
Of Representatives of the United
bled, that the President of the United
States Is requested, if not incompatible
with the public interests, to advise the
governments of Great Britain and
Japan, respectively, that this govern
raent will at once take up directly
with their governments and without
waiting upon the action of any other
nation the question Of naval disarma-
:nent with a view of promptly enter
ing into a treaty by which the naval
building programs of each of said gov
ernmenus, to wit, that of Great Britain,
Japan and the United States. shall be
reduced annually during the next five
years to such an extent and upon such
terms as may be agreed upon.
"Section 2-That this proposition is
suggested by the Congress of the
United States to accomplish i'm
mcdiately a substantial reduction Of
the naval ornaments of the world"
Reduction Left Indefinite
The original Borah resolution pro-
vided for an annual reduction of pro-
grams Of SO per cent. The committee
changed this to provide for annual re-
duction "to such an. extent and upon
such terms as may be agreed upon."
1t was pointed out in committee hat
the effect of so per cent reduction,
;nasmuch as the building program Of
the United States is larger than those
of Great Britain or Japan, would tend
to hold back the progress Of the United
States Navy unduly and especially
that it would keep the British navy in
a superior position for long perlo&.
Secretary of the Navy. Daniels to-
day departed from his Original stand
on the question of disarmament con-
ference by admitting that he would not
be opposed to conference in which
the five great powers associated in the
war would be members. He adhered
to his objection to the Borah plan
which contemplates the United States,
Great Britain and Japan as the three
serted that France and Italy should
be added to the list of original nations