The Washington herald., 1921-03-02
Resolution Adopted After
Secret Discussion of
Jap Threat.
ACT UNPARALLELED
EVEN IN WAR DAYS
Nippon Rushes Big Navy
To Eclipse America,
Members Told.
ny ARTHUR SEARS HENNrNe.

sion this afternoon of the Japaness
menace in the first secret legisla-
tive session in many years the Sem
ate shortly before midnight unsni-
mously adopted an amendment 90
the naval appropriation bill provid-
ing for negotiations with Great
Britain and Japan for reduction q
naval armament.
Although Republican leader Lodge
and other strong navy Senators ex-
pressed the opinion in the secret
session that a naval reduction
agreement with Japan would not
be worth the paper it was written
on, there were no votes against
Senator Edges amendment TO un-
dertake the negotiations with Great
Britain and Japan which was adopt
ed by a vote OF SIS ayes.
EIiminstion Made.
Favorable action on the amend
ment however. was made possible
only when senator Edge consented
to the elimination of France and
Italy and the land armament aues-
tion from the proposition. IL was
the prevailing opinion that the
prospects of obtaining reduction OF
naval armament by agreement would
be embarrassed by dragging in the
question Of army restriction.
Previously the Senate rejected by
a vote of 2s to 80 the Walsh amend
ment to send delegates to the ieague
OF nations disarmament conferences.
On this vote the Senate divided on
| party lines. the negative majority
| consisting of 20 Republicans and
Senator Smith, Of Georgia Demo-
crst
Text Adopted.
The. text Of the Edge amendment.
practically identical with the origi-
nal Borah resolution, Tosf<eFs.s- :, =
| The President Is authoriEed ana
requested. IL not Incompatible with
the public interest. to invite the
! governments Of Great Britain ana
Japan TO send representatives to
conference which shall be charged
with the duty of promptly entering
into a proposed understanding or
agreement by which the naval
building program OF each of said
| governments, to wit, the United
States. Great Britain and Japan.
shall be substantially reduced an
nually during the next fve years.
to such an-extent and upon such
terms as may be agreed upon. which
conclusion or agreement il TO be
reported to the respective govern
ments for their approval"
Argue with Borah-
Senator Borah's filibuster against
the naval appropriation bill in the
endeavor to force inclusion OF the
disarmament enactment and aliena-
tion of the 100000. 900 Senate COM
mittee increases in the navy budget.
chiefly for Pacific Coast naval bases
and aviation, precipitated the secret
session in which the Japanese ques-
ition was handled without gloves.
An effort was made to dissuade Bo-
rah from his course, threatening de-
feat of the bill in this Congress. by
setting forth the necessity Of adopt
ing a firm policy in dealing with
Japan and backing Il with . strong
navy.
In this connection Senator Lodge
ldwelt upon Japsn's imperialistic de-
signs in the Pacific, menacing stti-
; tuJe in the California land contro-
versy. breach Of faith in the Ysp sf-
fair and general sharp practice and
double dealing In relations with the
United States.
Tells Of Threat.
Senator Poindexter said Japan is
rushing naval construction on a
large scale in secret but that. even
on the basis OF the figures divulgsd
by Tokyo. the Japanese navy will be
nearly equal TO the American navy
, in strength and in some respects su-
, perior when the present building
programs Of both nations are COM
! pleted.
When the doors were reopened
Senator Borah pronounced himself
, unconvinced and determined to DE-
feat the bill unless his views were
,, accepted. He proceeded with his
, flibuster to break down which Sena-
tor Poindexter said he would hold
, the Senate in session at night After
several weary hours the leaders de-
cidcd to accept the disarmament
amendment with a view to mollify-
, ling Borah and after the adoption Of
the Edge amendment satisfactory 20
lBorah, tho Senate recessed until IL
, a m. tomorrow.
The action of the Senate in going
into secret session to discuss a leg
lislative measure is almost without
, parallel. Such secrecy was not re-
sorted TO ever. in the darkest days
OF the war.
. II Is understood that Senator
Lodge began the discussion behind
? closed doors by reviewing in con-
|, siderable detail the relations with
: Japan.
: Discussien Of Nsp.
All the debate related to the Jap
anese situation and resolved psrtic-
ulsrly about the negotiations over
the Island Of zap. The testimony
of Norman Davis. Undersecretsry Of
State. before the Foreign Relations
Committee several weeks aeo was
: discussed in conjunction with the
apparent determination OF the al
he'd governments to back Japan IN
the controversy over the Zap man
: date.
Senator Lodge Is reported 70 have
. asserted that the Japs could not
: be trusted In diplomatic negotfa-
, lions and that IL was impossibls