New-York tribune., 1921-05-29
Clash BetaUeegt Houses
On Disarmament T,ikeIv

WASHINGTON, May 28.-PossibiIi-
ties OF serious hitch between the two
houses over the naval appropriation
blll have been increased by the onno-
sltlon OF House Leader MondeIl to the
borah disarmament amendment. ac-
cordlng to Senators who are in favor
OF the Borah plan. Leading support
ers OF the Borah amendment in the
Senate, though they said they did not
want to criticize Mr.. Mondells plan at
this time, made it plain they intended
to stand squarely by this amendment,
Talk was even heard that if the
Borah amendment was eliminated from
the bill in conference or was CHANGED
SO as to be impracticable, the naval
bill would be held up indefinitely.
The argument of the leading sup
porters Of the Borah amendment is
that if the President should call 8
conference of the United States. Japan
and Great Britain on naval reduction.
it would be practical and would bring
results, but if an attempt is made to
include naval and land armament re-
ductlon at this time, the whole move
ment for lessened armament is likely
to fall through.
Objections also are made to trying
to include more than the three lead
ing naval powers in the conference if
it is to relate solely to naval arma-
ment.
1t became plain to-day that there
would be strong objection in the House
to dropping disarmament from the
naval bill. The probable procedure in
the House will be to broaden out the
Borah amendment to apply it to land
as well as naval disarmament and
leave it in the bill. After that, an ad-
justment can be reached in conference.
To drop disarmament entirely from the
bill would mean a bitter clash in the
House in addition to much trouble in
the Senate.
Uncertainty prevails as to when the
naval bill will pass. 1t will come up
again in the Senate Tuesday. A num-
ber of the items disposed of in the
committee of the whole will cause con-
troversy when the bill is reported to
the Senate
One of the subjects over which there
will be more controversy is the ap-
preparation for the dry dock at
Charleston. This was knocked out of
the bill and the provision for dredging
the channel also was repealed Sena-
tor Smith, of South Carolina, regarding
this action as hard blow at Charles
ton, made an appeal to have it re-
versed.
Although it is denied there is def
mite understanding between the leaders
on the Naval Affairs Committee who
fought for the 10000 personnel item
and the Senators who are for the dry
dock at Charleston harbor, there are
signs that they are voting closely in
unison. Senator Smith will endeavor
to have the Charleston items restored.
This is likely to precipitate contro-
Versy, as a number of Senators who
have studied the situation hold that
the expenditure of further money at
Charleston would be as useless, or
nearly so, as it is alleged it would be
at Alameda
So far as Alameda is concerned, it
was generally conceded today that any
further efforts to restore the item for
the supply base there would be futile.
Another controversy over the per-
sonnel will develop in the Senate.
Such is the opposition in the House
to the Senate increases in the bill that
Representative Kelly of Michigan, IN
charge of the measure in The House,
has assured Republicans he will CON.
sent to no increases in conference
without first referring them to the
House, SO that body can vote them up
or down. =