New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-07-24
Equal Strength
ToBeU.S.Stand
In Arms Parley
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II 1T convenes, as is hoped by the
President, on Armistice Day.
Then again, the military and naval
requirements of the United States will
necessarily be shaped a good deal bv
the progress made in the preliminary
discussion of Pacific problems. For ex
ample, if the japanese should retain
the asserted mandate over the North
Pacific islands the minimum defense
requirements of the Philippines, Guam
and Hawaii would be far in excess of
those needed under an arrangement to
lnternationalize the Caroline and
Marshall groups, formerly held by Ger
many.
Accordingly, neither Secretary Weeks
nor his associate in the country's de-
tense, Secretary DENLY, can hope to fur
nlsh American representatives to the
dlsarmament~A conference with absolute
hgures. The best they can do is to sup.
Ply accurate comparative figures for the
United States and the powers as armies
and navles stand now, and then advise
regarding the safe American military
and naval minima as the proceedings of
the conference succeed in curtailing OF
removing the possibility of successful
aggression on the part of any nation
against this country.
Attitude of Congress
While the move to prepare military
ana naval data originated with the
executive departments, as, of course, il
should, members of Congress have also
displayed an interest in the question and
have asked both the War and Nayv de-
partments for figures to be made the
basis for discussions of disarmament
This Congressional interest, moreover
Is not regarded as a happy augury by
Administration heads.
Unless the President through infor-
nal suggestions can place an effective
gag, on Congress during the progress
OF the conference it is feared that
serious embarrassments may ensue,
Already the House immigration Com
mittee has asked the Department of
State for information regarding the ne
gotiations between Japan and the
United States on the question Of immi-
grafton, one of the most delicate cues
tions that may come before the confer
ence.
1t is pointed out that should tho
Senate and House indulge in an cora
torical field day" on the questions be-
fore the world conference during it's
progress an atmosphere highly mimi
cal to satisfactory negotiation may
develop.
That this is factor to be reckoned
with is established with any one who
gives thought to the trend of discus
sion in Congress. There are ten men
in Congress who regard themselves as
qualified to settle the most compli
Gated questions of foreign relations
where there is one who lays claim to
any special capacity for the solution
of railroad matters. the tariff, revenue
or any of the other essential domestic
Legislative problems.
With Congress converting for the
regular session in December about the
time the world conference would have
completed its preliminary organiza-
ton and gotten under way, provided
it meets on November IL, administers
ton heads have already canvassed the
possibility of inadvertent Congress
SIGNAL interference.
In fact, the suggestion has Keen
made in high Administration quar-
ter that the President move the con-
ference to some secluded place within
easy access of the capital where the
negotiations could proceed without the
intrusion of Congressional oratory
with an accompanying daily echo in
the press.