Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1921-01-04
HEARINGS OPENED ON
NAVY-BU|LD|NC CUT
Borah Resolution Taken Up by
Senate Foreign Relations
Committee.
COoNTZ AND AIDS WITNESSES
Oppose Curtailmcnt by Pcrccn-
tagc, Saying Equalization VIII
Not Observation-Disclosures Not Yet In
vitcd to Appear.

WASflINGTN, Jan. 3.--The general
construction was taken up today by
the Senate Foreign Relations COM
mitice ut executive hearings which
win he continued Wednesday and
which may run for some weeks.
Specifically. the committee had ne
fore it the Borah resolution asking
President Wilson to initiate actcotia-
tons with Great Britain and Japan
looking to IL reduction OF so pur cent
lin the naval building programs of
those countries and the United states.
II was understood that considerable
sentiment developed In the commit
tee to include France and Italy i'll the
negotiations, but this was opposed by
Senator Borah. who WAS said u have
argued that those countries would
follow the lead OF the United States.
Great Britain and Japan. and that il
they became a party to the ncgotia
tons. a reduction of armies as well
as naVics would enter into the dis
cuSsion.
british to Handle French.
Great Britain. the Senator was re-
ported to have said. could be cN-
pectcd TO urge reduction of the
French army if she should consent to
reducing her navy.
Admiral Coontz. chief of naval oper-
atoms. and his aids were the only
witnesses examined today. Commit
tee members said others would be
called. but that there had been no
suggestion tina; Secretary Daniels he
invited to appear. While the com
mittec was in session. the naval sec
rotary in his daily conference with
newspaper correspondents reiterated
his opposition to the Borah resolution
and also took occasion to say that
so far as no had been advised, Prcsi-
dent Wilson had taken no steps look
ing to disarmament conference
among tho world powers as he has
authority under the naval act OF
1916.
Admiral Coontz. Senators said. OPP
posed the Borah resolution or any
| other plan based on percentage re-
| duction In building. arguing that such
| n reduction would fail 10 bring abou,
! any equalization of naval power he
| cause Of the different size OF the pro
! grams OF tho different nations.
American Program Largest.
| The committee was told by the ad'
| miral that the American building pro
gram was the largest and the Jap
ancse SECOND, but that even with thu
senators were said to hav, been told
ana unless ii is Increased before 100
the American navy would about anna,
the British.
IN order Ia expedite her program
Japan is having three large hattie.
| SHIPS quit in England. according n
information received by the navy In.
'eiIiecnce service and transmitted m
IN" Senate committed
France and Italy also Inv, so,,
n"iiding programs. Admiral Coou,y
Was Said !" have testified. but they
are hampercd by lack of funds
france. Admiral Cooni2 stated. had
several capital ships laid down h..
Tore the world war upon which ~;
work has been done since pcacc y,.
declared.
Figures and data as to forcirn
haV!cs gathered by various govern
'hcnt sources were laid before tho
committee by Admiral Coontz. An
OF the principal powers, Senator'S said
t"ey We're Informed, were spending
considerable money and crrort -
"eep themselves Informed on the
""Na' ana military activities Of other
nations.