New-York tribune., 1921-03-07
Size of NAVY
Brings First
Cabinet Rift
Washington Agog as Den.
by Wants to Guido Eng
land and Weeks Takes
Flat Issue With Him
BY Carter Field

WASHINGTON, March 6.--The first
open difference in the Harding Cabinet
on a great question of public ,policy
has already arisen. 1t is on the size
Of the navy.
Secretary Of the Navy Edwin DENLY
is in favor Of navy as large or larger
than that Of Great Britain. He made
the perfectly fiat statement, mention
ing Great Britain, late last night at
the Navy League dinner.
Secretary Of War John w Weeks,
whose Endorsement really put Mr.
Denby in the Cabinet, after listening
to this statement, took sharp issue
with it, declaring he favored a navy
as large IS that Of any nation with
which this country might be involved
in war. He waved aside the posi-
bility of wax with Great Britain.
Mr.. DENLY, in dwelling on the size Of
the British navy, laid stress on the i'm
probability of ever having q war with
Great Britain, but said if he we're asked
Why our navy should be as large az
that Of Great Britain he would reply
with Yankee question, "Why not?"
Difference Stirs Capital
Washington is agog to-day over this
sharp difference Of opinion between the
two men in charge Of the national de-
tense portfolios. The interest is in
tensified because Of the fact that the
Senate has just talked to death the
navy bill, and every indication is that
when the new Congress is called the
NJ N Q cr<.S >,vtA Il,
nought program will be renewed with
all the enthusiasm, and perhaps with a
greater following, than the movement
had in the Congress Just ended.
Judging from comments by Senator'S
and members Of the House tonight, Mr.
Weeks has the more popular side of
the controversy in Congress. New
members Of both houses, just elected
in November, seem especially impressed
with the idea Of cutting governme nta |
expenses in order TO reduce taxes in
things to prune, in their minds, are tho
army aRd navy.
Very Interesting in this connection
as applied to the new Senators and
representatives from the Middle West
is the comment of Assistant Secre-
tary of the Navy Roosevelt, who spoke
after Mr.. DENLY and Mr.. Weeks had
concluded. He warned the Navy
League that pacifsm was putting up it's
head all over the country, in one guise
or another, and that the function of the
league was to fight it,
Colonel Roosevelt did not involve
himself in the difference between his
own chief and Secretary of War Weeks,
except on this point of having the
Navy League fight with renewed yigor
against pacihsm, Mr. Weeks having ad-
vanced some other ideas as to what
function could now best be served by
the Navy League.
Jusserand Joins Talk
Il notice in all this talk about dis
armaments," observed Ambassador
Jusserand, that France is never mem
toned. | presume that is because the
navy OF France is just the proper size
neither too large nor too small"
T The curious thing about the sharp
difference between Mr.. Weeks and MI
DENLY as to the size of the navy is
that while both men stated their con-
victions with the utmost positveness
both chatted pleasantly later, SO that,
while no doubt was left that each
would do his utmost to persuade Presi-
dent Harding and Congress to follow
his ideas, no personal bitterness seems
likely to ensue.
Mr.. Denby, incidentally, made his
points with an oratorical ring which
brought the diners upon their toes.
Wonder is very generally expressed
to-day in comment on his speech, that
he has not been better known az
campaign speaker. Equipped with q
very powerful voice, an impressive
manner and with remarkable COM
mand Of language, no one can under
stand that he was not one Of the head
liners Of the last campaign.
Mr.. Weeks mad. his points, just as
he did in debates in the Senate when
he was member Of that body, as
though he were sitting a. directors
table of a big corp 'ration. or in per-
sonal conversation.