Amarillo daily news. [volume] (Amarillo, Tex.) 19??-current, 1921-01-04
FARMERS RELIEF BILL VETOED BY PRESIDENT
| QUESTION OF REDUCING NAVAL
PROGRAM IS CONSIDERED BY
FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE
~ Associated Pres.

WASHINGTON. Jan. 3-The gcnerai
subject of reduction In world naval
construction was taken IN today by
the senate foreign relations committee
at executive hearings which win he
, continued "Wednesday and which may
run for some weeks
Specifically. the committee had before
u the Borah resolution asking Presl.
dent Wilson 10 initiate negotiations with
Great Britain and Japan looking 10 a
reduction of fifty per cent In the naval
building programs Of those countries
and the United States. II was under
stood that considerable sentiment dcvel.
oped In the committee 10 include France
and Italy In the negotiations. but this
was opposed by senator Borah. who Ia
said tn have argued that those eoun.
tries will follow the lead of the United
States. Great Britain and Japan anil
TINT n they become a party to the ne.
gotlations a reduction of armies AZ well
~ navlcs would enter into the discus
sion.
Great Britain. the senator was report.
I'd to have said. could be expected "a
! urgr r,tlucticn ~ the French army n
she should consent % reducing her navy
Admiral Coontz. chief Of naval oper.
ations. and his aides were the only wit.
nesses examined today. Committee mem.
hers said others would he called but
that there had been no suggestion that
Secretary Daniels I've invited 20 appear.
While the committee was In session. the
naval secretary In his daily conference
atcd his opposition 10 the Borah rcso
luton and also took occasion 10 sav
that 40 far as he had been advised
President Wilson had taken no stops
looking "a a disarmament conference
among the world powers as he has ~.
thority under the naval act of 1915.
Admiral coontE. senator's said. or.
poscd the Borah resolution OF any 9TH
er plah hascd on percen,age reduction
In building. arguing that \ reduction
] would fall IN bring about any eduail'
za'ion NJ naval power because of the
different DIE 81 the programs ~ the
Affcrent nations
The c,.nmiltce was told by the nd
miral iha, the American building pro.
gram was the largest and the Japanese
Fecond. but that even with the com
nletion of the Japanese program. ia
pans navy would have only about half
the strength Of the American navy,
Great fsritain's building program Il
comparatively small. the senator's were
said 10 have hecn told. and unless II is
Increased before ,ssi. the American
navy would about equal the Rritish.
In order 10 expedite her program.
Jaran II havia. three large hatticships
built in England. according to inform
alton received by the navy intelligence
service and transmitted TO the senate
committee.
France and Italy also have small
building programs. Admiral Coontz was
'-aid 20 have testified. hut they arr
hampcrcd by lack of funds. France,
ADMIRAL Coon,z stated. had several car
i,ai ships laid Gown before the world
war upon which no work has been dons
since peace was declared.
Figures and data as to foreign navics
gathered by various government sources
were laid before the committee by "A
nirai coon,, All of the principal pow
ers. senators sid they were Informed
wer srcnding considerable money and
effort to keep themselves Informed on
the naval and military activities of Other
nations.