New-York tribune., 1921-11-11
big Navy Men
La Senate Urge
Building Go On
Heads Opposition
10 ponerene Resolution
for Suspension OF Work
During Arms Conference
Saw America Cannot Lag
Other Powers Would SO Far
Ahead, Naval Committees
Acting Chief Points Out


F-on. Th- grsaisac's washimoton Bureaus
WASHINGTON, Nov. Io.-Strong OBJ
section to any action by the United
States to suspend naval construction
while the Conferences on Limitation of
Armament is in progress was voiced
,o-day By Senator Poindexser, of Wash
rton. ranking Republican member of
Senate Naval Affairs Committee.
Through most OF the present session
of Congress Senator Poindexter has
served as acting chairman of the COM
nittce. owing to illness of Senator
Page, the chairman. Senator Poin-
dexter is one OF the "big navy" group
that controls the committee and was
in charge of the naval appropriation
bill last summer while it WAS steering
stormy course through the Senate.
s Senator Poindexter says suspension
81 construction may we'll wait on the
&C aciusion of the conference. Then, ii
Al reements have been effected, it will
be time to curtaiI the building of war
ships This view undoubtedly will have
strong support in the Senate and
3 House II the issue involved in Sem
aeor Pomerene's resolution calling for
E sspension OF the building program
,til the conference is concluded is
p ssed, as it is likely to be.
Would Not Surrender Cards
Senator Poindexter, when asked con-
cerning the proposal to halt or limit
construction of warships until the con-
ference is over, said:
"I thought limitation of armaments
VS. s the very question this conference
was called to consider. In other words,
Il was called to consider whether it
vas wise to enter into agreements for
the limiting of arnaments. 1t would
seem to NE to be unwlse to stop con-
xtTuction in advance of the agreements.
One does not ordinarily give up all
his cards before sitting in session
of this kind.
1T would be impossible to suspend
ccnstruction without disorganization
Of tae forces engaged in the work
and without deterioration Of property.
We would have TO pay large claims to
contractors growing cut of the stop
page of construction. Moreover, we
ever could resume on the same basis
as existed when we stopped While
England and Japan were preparing
feverishly we would be doing nothing.
The present building program was au-
shorized IN 1916 as war prepared
ness measure. 1t would not be carried
out now il we were to stop construc-
zion fer q time.
we are building six battle cruisers.
ten scout cruisers aud ten battleships.
We have no up to date scout cruisers
and no battle cruisers st ali, while
England and Japan are we'll supplied.
Ye have already slowed down all con-
structlon. Construction OF battlesnips
Is only about 25 per cent Of what it
would ordinarily be, while building of
battle cruisers is so per cent of nor
nal and that Of scout cruisers SO
per cent"
The expressions Of Senator Poin-
dexter made it plain there will be
strong antagonisn in the Naval At
fairs Committee to temporary suspen-
sion. Senator Page has declared him
self as opposed to suspension pending
the conference.
Senator Pomerene is preparing to
press his resolution in the Senate
Monday or as soon thereafter as pos
sible. The Ohio Senator to-day was
awaiting word from the President as
10 what course had been determined on
by the Executive with respect to the
proposed suspension.
Believes Congress Has Power
Senator Pomerene is aware that
there is doubt as to what authority
the President has concerning the sus-
pension of work under contracts al
ready made for the construction of
vessels, but he has no doubt that Con-
gress can give the authority.
I'm some quarters" said Senator
Pomerene, 'it is objected that it would
cost the government money to suspend
work under existing contracts. 1t
would be much better, in my opinion,
TO lose the money than TO spend it in
time OF peace on naval vessels which
IN time of war would be simply fodder
for aircraft"
II is the view of Mr.. Pomerene that
Tor this government to suspend con-
structlon until the conference had
chance to try to effect agreements
would have great moral effect in help
ing the cause Of limitation of arna-
nents.
In connection with the talk which has
been aroused at the Capitol over the
Pomerene resolution, and suspension of
navy building while the conference
WAS in session, it has developed that
S~1i1. .oAo WHY are Interested IN the
naval program are keeping a keen eve
an such proposals as this government
may make for limiting naval construc-
ton. Thus far the American delegates
and the naval advisers have kept the pro-
gram they have in mind to themselves.
But any agreement made will have to
pass the close scrutiny of the Senate.
md il the plan which American dele,
gates support fails to suit any consid-
cradle group OF Senators, an outbreak
of criticism may be looked for.