Evening star., 1921-01-16
PROPOSAL TO OPEN
D|SARM|NGPARLEY
| BEFORE THE HOUSE
Representative Brooks Hopes
to Get Action Following
+ Committee Report.

Following the first definite steps
toward international disarmament taken
by the House foreign affairs committee
in unanimously reporting the Brooks res
olution. Representative Edwin Brooks
OF Illinois. author Of the resolution. ex-
poets to get special rule from the
rules committee giving this legislation
right of way in the House.
The Brooks resolution authorizes
President Wilson to invite the ma
tions of the world to send delegates
to an international convention to con-
slider ways and means of eHectlng
disarmament. The only difference OF
opinion expressed in the committee
or among members of the House after
the resolution was reported was as
to whether it would not be proper to
postpone such action until President
elect Harding could take the initiative.
Special Rule May he Invoked.
1t is probable that a special rule
will be invoked. as otherwise action
on the committee report might not
can leaders are anxious to have the
matter expedited. An effort will be
made tomorrow to hasten the action
in bringing this measure up on the
floor of the House.
Although all members of the COM
Iultlcc NOlcu 1OE the pTOpOSdl, ucIlO-
Gratis objected to it's adoption at this
time on the ground that it might
embarrass the President. They con-
tended it was a question which more
properly should be considered by
President-elect Harding. Chairman
ment, insisted. however. that it was
the desire to have the resolution
ready for Mr.. Harding in event Mr..
Wilson did not act on it.
There was no indication of any
movement to get together with the
Senate, which has pending a reSolu-
tion by Senator Borah. republican.
Idaho, providing for armament reduc-
tion by the United States, Great Brit
ain and Japan. and resolution by
authorizing the President to appoint
a member of the disarmament COM
mission of the league of nations.
Vote Is I'm Doubt.
Members of the committee frankly
expressed doubt whether the Brooks
resolution could be voted on at this
session. owing to the heavy run of ap-
preparation legislation.
Without much discussion the COM
mittee defeated an amendment by
Representative Mason. republican. IL
1nois, stipulating that countries now
seeking their independence should be
invited to the conference. which would
be held in this country. Mr.. Mason
said this would enable Ireland and
the Philippines to participate.
Mrs. Charles Edward Russell of the
Woman's Peace Society expressed the
view that the Borah resolution in the
Senate was too limited and might
breed suspicion in other nations.
Chairman Porter contended also that
all nations should participate in the
conference and endeavor to disarm
Mrs. Russell told the committee it
could no more claim there was such a
thing as civilized warfare than it
could speak of a heavenly hell
Men have created a military ma
chine, just as Frankenstein. created q
monster. which is trying to destroy
the world" Mrs. Russell said. Eugene
v. Debs, who tried to destroy = the
monster. was called a pacifist and put
in prison" 1
Mrs. Russell said the league Of ma
tions was a, document her mind could
not grasp.