Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-03-02
SECRET FACTS ON
Jap SITUATION ARE.
GIVEN j. S. SENATE.
CONFIDENTIAL REPORT ON NIP.
pom NAVAL BUILDING PRO.
GRAM PRESENTED SOLONS--
BoRAH HOLDS OUT FOR DIS.
ARMAMENT.

Washington, March 2---Relations be.
tween the United States and Japan
were discussed late Monday at an oX-
ecutiye session of the Senate held at
the suggestion of Senator Lodge OF
Massachusetts, in the midst OF CON
sideration Of the naval appropriation
bill, in the hope of passing ii at this
session The whole field of controy-
ersy with Japan including the Japan
csc naval building program ana ior-
eign policies, was said to have heeh
talked over frankly by number OF
senators
Confidential information regarding
the Japanese naval building program
and that of other powers also was
reported to have been presented To
the Senate. Considerable information
of this character was given recently
to the Senate naval committee in cN-
ecutiye session by high officers and
members of the navy intelligence
staff
Other matters said to have been
discussed at length included informa-
tion regarding the island of zap and
its cable possession, given to the
Senate foreign relations committee by
Under.Secretary of State Davis. and
recent developments in the ContrO.
versy over Japan's claims to the IS
land of zap.
Several senator's, it was said. took
the view that abe island Of zap was
certain to become serious and deli.
cate problem in the near future
Senator Lodge, it was reported, pre-.
scented new matter in connection with
the relations between Japan and this
nation. This it was said, did not re-
late to the California alien land con.
troversy
Earlier Senator Poindexter. in
charge Of the naval bill, asserted the
United States is confronted with Il
very critical situation in our foreign
relations
Senator POindeXter said he had no
objection to consideration of the BO-
rah resolution, proposed as an amend
ment to the bill. but that he believed
it would be better IF it authorized
the President TO negotiate and propose
a plan for disarmament rather than
request him to call a conference Of
the four powers, Great Britain, Japan.
France and the United States"
The senator challenged Senator
Borahs statement that the American
navy was two and a half times greater
than that of Japan.
when the 1916 program is com
pleted, if it is ever allowed to be" he
said the United States will have six
battle cruisers and Japan will have
twelve. At the present time. count
ing only ships Of the first line the
United States has eleven and Japan
has nine"
When the building programs are
finally completed, the United States
will have tWenty.seven ships of the
first line, including six battle cruisers,
and Japan will have tWeuty.fuur o'
the first line, including twelve battle
cruisers
A navy adequate for defense, nut
not for Offense,' was ChampiOned by
i0tudlbt w IlidiHS, MlSSISSlppI
ITO begin again an endless cmul".
tion of armament by the nations" the
senator said, ''would be the epitome OF
madness for those who hope for the
peace Of the world
Senator Edge attempted seyera
times to effect compromise witt
Senator Borah by which the bill cOulC
be enacted, Each effort proved futil,
as the discussions continued over
wide field of subjects.
Senator King renewed his attack OF
the Alameda, Cal, proposed nava
base. which he threatened to talk t,
death unless it was eliminated. II
challenged the authority of the cit,
of Oakland to give the government
proper title to the land donated 70
the base, and said it was nothing bu
swamp, almost entirely covered b,
water
NO bottom has been discovered fo
some parts Of this land" he said. al
though bOrings have been made t
some zoo feet in places It's swami
and bOttOmless