Omaha daily bee., 1921-01-04
Borah Plan
Opposed by
NavyCroup
Proposal to Curtail Navy
Building in Leading Nations
Makes Headway in Com
mittee Meeting.
Admiral Coontz Talks
BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
rI,t,u~o Trlhuna nu,ah~ n>~ Z ~ss.A Ulxs

BY ARTHUR SEARS HENNING.
Chicago Tribune Omaha Bee Leased Wire.
Washington, Jan. 3.--Despite OBJ
jections raised by the navy, the
Borah plan for a conference of the
nations to work out an agreement to
curtail naval building programs ap-
peared to have made considerable
headway at today's meeting of the
senate foreign relations committee.
1t seems to be fairly we'll settled
that the committee will report out
resolution based upon the Borah
scheme. and there is little inclina-
ton on the part of members to hold
the measure up until the new admin
istration comes into office. They
are entirely willing to let the resolu
ton take it's chances of obtaining
President Wilson's approval, be-
lieving that, in view Of his labors
for world peace, he would not
hesitate to sign such measure.
Provides for Conference.
The Borah resolution, in its pres
ent form, provides for the calling
of conference of representatives of
the United States, Great Britain and
Japan, the chief naval powers, with
the view of coming to all agreement
TO cut down naval building programs
50 per cent each year. for the next
five years. The disposition of the
committee seems to be to amend the
resolution to include France and
Italy, at least as a matter of cour7
tesy. N
Senator Borah of Idaho, author OF
the resolution, fears the inclusion of
these two powers might create dam
aging, if not fatal complications. He
is afraid that it would bring the ques
ton of land disarmament 10 the fore,
particularly in the case Of France,
and lead to dissension that probably
would break up the conference.
Nevertheless, he said, he was willing
to agree to the amendment if by SO
doing he can get the nations gather
ed around round table to discuss a
concrete proposal to curtail naval
building. He desires to ascertain
how far Japan is willing to go in
backing up its assertions of a will
ingness to quit building battleships
if the United States would do like
| wise.
Explains Present Plans
Admiral Coontz, chief of the In
telligence division of naval opera
tions. testified before the foreiHa re
1ations committee today IN secret ses-
sion. He was called to furnish IN
formation about the relative strength
and the building and programs OF
the principal naval powers and also
to present the professional navy view
OF the Borah scheme. Without open
ly declaring their opposition. they
made it fairly plain that they do not
look upon the idea of naval-build
ing holiday with any great desire OF
favor.
Admiral Coontz. it was stated, was
emphatic in declaring that the Uniteo
States must keep its proportionate
naval strength. He thought il would
be a great mistake for the nation to
Sacrifice any of its present standing
among the chief naval powers. He
contended that it would not be feasi-
Bile to establish fixed percentage ef
annual reduction of building for the
reason that this would create ser
ious inequality.
Borah Favors Change.
Senator Borah said he recognized
the foundation for this declaration
and declared his willingness to leave
the question of reduction percentage
to the proposed conference.
1t is understood that Admiral
Coontz's information showed tina,
the British naval building program
was inconsiderable; that Japan's was
about half that of the United States
while France and Italy contemplated
little construction.