Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-12-12
HITCHCOCK FAV0RS
FOUR-P0WER TREATY.,
REED To FIGHT IT
Washington Sees More Than
Thrse-fourths Vote for Its
Final Ratification.
NAVY PERSONNEL CUT

VWtOt NaA'tSoSSs.
NAVY PERSONNEL CUT
Washington, Dec. Ex-senator Gil |
bert NJ. Hitchcock Of Nebraska. rank
ing Democratic member of the Senate
Committee on Foreign Relations. who
directed the nght for the ratification
uf the Treaty of Versailles and the
League of Nations. said last night that
An his opinion there is no question
that the four-powcr treaty for peace
IN the Pacific. reported for the con-
ference saturday. will be ratified by
a vote that will largely exceed the
,hroo-fourths majority required by the
Constitution. Senator Hitchcock said
NE approved the treaty because. i'm his
opinion. there is nothing i'm il that
would Justify him In opposing 1t.
"A have only read the treaty text as
printed IN the newspapers" said Sona-
tor Hitchcock. "and | see no reason
for uppoalns Il. and / NJ the same time
zee no reason Tor cnthusing over Il.
" reminds me of the saying that 1t is
good enough what there is Of Il and
enough cf it such as II is"
DO Nnu agree with certain Senators
that Article H. In the new treaty re-
aunihlcs Article y, IN the Covenant Of
tho League of Nations?" Senator
llnchcock was asked.
Yes there is some resemblance" he
replied
VIM Wait TIL Conference Ends.
That tho treaty will not he sent TO
thu senate until after the Conference
inr the Limitation ~ Armaments mas
completed lts work in the general
opinion In Senatorial circles. IL is
pointed cut that the two Senators.
l,udgc ard Underwood. who .are ex-
puvtud tn lead tho fight for ratification.
are both members Of the American
delcvauon and untn the conference
has adjourned &, would he impossible
tor either Mr.. Lodge or Mr.. Under
wood Go give his undivided attention
60 the matter Of ratification.
u ia probable that the fight on the
part ot tho minority that will oppose
ratification will start I'm earnest when
the treaty IL referred to the Committee
uh FOREIGN Relations. At the present
momcut lg In considered certain that al
least eleven of the sixteen members of
thnt committee viii vote for ratifica-
Nun, The other five. all of them of the
socallcd irrcconcilable group. have de-
tlinod to- date TO commit themselves.
The clovcn who are listed as favor
able To ratification are Lodge. Nc
tumh'r, New. Kellogg. Mccormick
ANA Wadsworth 81 the Republicans.
ana Hitchcock, Williams, PHtrnan.
swanson and pomerene, Democrats.
The Ave "irrecouciables" who have
not declared their attitude are Borah.
Hrandcgce, Moses and johnson OF the
majority and shields OF the minority
membership. Senator Johnson is on
his way 60 California. while Senators
Mccormick and Pomerene are in
Haiti
. senator Reed may open fire on the
treaty at once II also is rumored that
Senator Harrison OF Mississippi may
take advsntage Cf the first opportuni-
~ 90 congratulate the administration
on iis endorsement, as be views IL. OF
nt leasi part of the Covenant of the
League of Nations.
To Cut Navy Pc rsonnel.
As the Washington conference ap-
proachos solution OF it's problems for
Tho rsluction OF naval armament. Con.
srees' is considering a bill to stop not
only the naval building program but I,
cut the pcrSSnnel In half.
IL " estimated by members of tn,
House Naval Affairs Committee thai
about s2oO 0uO, 600 will be saved by iu.
diclouS decreases next year and. IL
keeping with the sentiment for say.
ings IN war activities. there is 3
strong movement to reduce the arm,
g. $4,000 men.
Congress faces the greatest respon.
siuility, said a member Of the Naya
Affairs Committee. in doing justice 4
the hghiinE force who VIII be Thrown
"W OF their profession and lifeworl
Wy the scraiping Of the navy. Mer
Who nave given their entire lives Il
tho navy must Doe retired when the
naval agreement becomes operative
rms means that the present force OF
t'ooo-odd officers and 900 enlisted
men must be reduced approxinatel,
ont-half. and, furthermore. that IN,
s'tiV nhdshipmen at Annapolis ma,
pe Thrown into ciyl life when they
c"nipi"te their cOufse at the Nava
Academy.
II has been figured out roughly tha,
the reduced navy Will REQUIRE 1910 of
ncers, AS against me 1000 as AZ r,res
cnt constituted. The 2iS Captains vii
be reduced 10 gs and the g. Rear Ad
nnrnls 10 q. while the enlisted rner
VIII be cut Co So. 600 or SIS 900 men.
The Government does not intend
leading House members say. 10 dismis
these officers and men without MAX
ind adequate provision for their wei
fare. though it IL recognized that thi
could bc done II any such ruthlessnes
were required.
Those who have studied the subiec
say that the men win be retired @,
half pay, starting with the oldest VIII,
nre approaching retirement age. an,
That those who are not at retiremen
are but who must be retired in ac
cordance with tho reduction program
viii be given half pay, and. perhap,
asked 60 do technical work for tn
Government. either i'm the navy a
where their services will be useful.
As 60 the disposition Of the classe
nt the Naval Academy IL Is believes
that Congress Will pass law reduc
Ing the number 10 be admitted eacl
year and make provision for the edu
cation Of the present enrolment. Tha
very few. n any, OF those now in IN