Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1921-03-02
Firm Policy
With Japan.
Ad
Friction Between Countries
And Imprudcnce of Hating
Navy Program Discussed at
Secret Session of Senate.
Agreements Worthless
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha bee Leased Wire.

J
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, March IA sensa-
! tional discussion Of the increasing
friction between the United States
and Japan aud OF the imprudence
| of hating American navy construc-
tion under the circumstances took
| place in the senate this afternoon
i'll secret session, lasting two and a
half hours, the first legislative de-
liberations behind closed doors in
! many years.
Japan's imperialistic designs IN
the Pacific. menacing attitude in the
California land controversy. breach
of faith in the zap affair, and gen
eral sharp practice and double deal Z
ing in relations with the United
States, were cited by Senator Lodge.
the republican leader. as reasons
for adopting firm policy and back
ing it with strong navy.
Senator Lodge and other strong
navy senator's expressed the doubt
that an agreement with Japan to
reduce naval armament would be
worth that paper it was written on.
Senator Poindextcr said japan was
rushing naval construction in secret,
but that, even on a basis of the
figures made public by Toxic. the
Japanese navy will be nearly equal
to the American navy in strength
and in some respects superior, when
the present building program OF
both nations are completed.
Borah Still Unconvinced.
The discussion OF Japanese
menace in secret session was move
made to convince Senator Horah
and his supporters of the folly OF
fighting the provision for Pacific
coast naval bases and other increas-
cd naval appropriations proposed by
! the senate committee and of press
ing for tine inclusion for dsarma
ment amendment. After the doors
were reopened Senator Borah pro-
nounced himself unconvinced and
determined to defeat the bill.
| Thereupon Senator PolndcNter
said he would hold the senate ses
sion all night in all effort to break
down the Borah filibuster which
, otherwise would ditch the measure
/ by noon OF March 4.
! At the debate proceeding the Sc
} crct session. the japanese problem
was discussed with frankress.~
/ There is danger on the trail to-
night and we should take all possible
t steps to NEE, It." said Senator
! Phelan Of California. replying TO All
attack by Senator King of Utah OH
! the proposal to create new naval
base at Alameda.
Situation Critical
The United States is confronted
at the present time in its foreign re-
| lations, with a very critical situa-
ton" said Senator Poindexter. For
| the first time in our history we have
an opportunity, as result OF the
war, TO secure an adequate navy to
protect and defend the interests Of
the United States. 1t is the only
| thing we get out OF the war.
Contrast what the United States
| got out OF the war with what Japan
got apan got the island OF zap,
or rather she thinks she got the
! island OF zap She lays claim to an
empire i'll the Pacific ocean extend
| ing over 100000 square miles of
land and water as her compensation
for participation in the war. She is
being sustained by the council OF the
league OF nations. The United States
obtained nothing. We have begun,
| however, to assert our rights and to
say that we want the island of Yap
internationalized
Four OF the nine Japanese ships of
the first line, capital ships are bat
tie cruisers OF great speed and en-
crmous radius oi action with which
no battleships coult compete as to
speed and radius OF action, or ability
! TO deliver surprise attack