Evening star., 1921-05-28
SENATE SITS FIRM
FOR DISARMAMENT
Borah Amendment Favored,
Others Killed, But Naval
Bill Goes Over.

UllleFS NlIlcu, but Naval
Bill Goes Over.
The Senate stood firm in favor of the
Borah disarmament amendment to the
naval appropriation bill yesterday. and
declined to accept further amendments
offered by Senators Pomerene Of Ohio
Final action on the naval bill was not
taken. however, and it's further con-
sideration goes over until Tuesday.
the Senate having adjourned over
Memorial day.
Senator Pomerene's amendment was
supplementary to the BOrah amend
ment calling for a conference Of the
United States, Great Britain and Ja-
pan on a curtailment of naval arma-
ment 1t would have authorized the
President to suspend for six months
the naval building program OF the
United States in order to arrange the
proposed conference, and If dfsarma-
me mt agreement could be reached to
suspend construction in part or in
whole.
Sustain Vice President.
The Senate sustained a ruling of the
Vice President holding the Pomerene
amendment out of order. and then. by
a vote of 36 to 2s. declined to suspend
the rules to make the amendment in
order. 1t would have required two
thirds vote in the affirmative to sus-
pend the rules.
The Walsh amendment would have
authorized the President to send
American representatives to sit with
Soc nf ia
league of nations. 1t was defeated.
AZ to 22. following debate in which
the league Of nations issue was again
discussed at considerable length.
Senators Lodge and Watson OF
Georgia declared that the proposal
participation in the league. The
people Of the United States" said
Senator Lodge, have decided against
that league. The President has de-
clared he would not enter it."
Expressing the hope that the Presi-
ference proposed by the Borah
amendment. and that such a confer
ence would "soon be called" Senator
Lodge added:
But 1 do not propose for one to
join in any way this league Of nations
and / do not propose to enter any
side door or back gate"
Senator Underwood. Alabama, demo-
cratic leader, replied Immediately, de.
ploring that the Senate had prevented
American entrance into the league
He said, however, that this was set
tied by the administration policy of
nom membership and was not involved
in the Walsh amendment
Participate Independently.
I'VE should accept the invitation (of
the league) to participate in the dis
armament conferences of the commits
sion, not as a member but as an in
dependent nation" he said. adding
that the nation should indicate a de-
sire to cooperate toward general dis
great question now before the world.
Senator Walsh also argued that the
league commission was considering
general disarmament, while under the
Borah plan only naval disarmament
would be under consideration.
The Senate adopted an amendment
by Senator King. democrat. Utah. di-
recting the Secretary of the Navy to
report, after a survey, whether any
navy yards, stations or other shore
of the navy yards and stations. Sena-
tor King said. were useless "excres-
cences."
The proposal for a new naval base
at Alameda. Calf. was lost finally
when Senator Ball, republican. of
e, d
1t, announced after further canvass
of senators that no further attempt
would be made to rescind the Senate's
vote striking the item from the bill.
Opposition in House.
Opposition has developed in the
House to the Borah disarmament
amendment to the naval appropria-
ton bill authorizing and requesting
the President to call a conference Of
States to reach an agreement on re-
duction of naval forces. Critics of
the proposal either contended it was
not broad enough or that it's adoption
should await "a more opportune
time"
After a conference with President
Harding. Representative Mondell, the
republican leader. said he thought re-
duction Of naval strength should be
accompanied by partial disarmament
on land. An international conference
should approach the question with this
end in view. he added.
Mr. Mondell said he could see no OBJ
lection to Congress suggesting to the
President that he call "A disarmament
conference Of the powers. but added
that he thought such an expression
should be contained in a separate res
olution and not in an amendment to an
appropriation bill.
He indicated the House might at
tempt to eliminate the Borah amend
ment with the understanding that
such a proposal would be considered
in the near future independently Of
other legislation.
Representative Britten. Illinois.
ranking republican on the House ma
val committee. declared he was op-
posed to the Borah amendment. The
Navy's 1916 building program should
be completed, he said, adding that il
nations then agreed to disarm 1t
should be with the understanding that