New-York tribune., 1921-01-23
Suggests No Action Tow
ard Calling Conference
Be Taken Until Harding
Has Chance for Decision
Holds Action Now
Would Be Mistake
Borah in Reply Declares
Postponement Will but
Add to Nations Burdens

From The Tribuncs Washington Bureau
WASHINGTON, Jan. 22.-Elihu Root
former Secretary of State. suggested
in letter to the House Committee on
Naval Affairs, made public to-day, that
plans for world conference looking
toward disarmament or a naval con-
struction holiday should be delayed un-
til after the inauguration of President
elect Harding.
Although reiterating his strong in
dorsement Of the movement to arrange
an agreement among the powers for a
limitation of ornaments. Mr. Root said
that he believed it would be impracti-
cable to reach definite conclusions in
the matter until the new President and
his Secretary of State had had time
to inform themselves and reach conclu-
sions as to what steps would most
probably be successful.
Mr.. Root said he believed steps
toward such conference ought to be
taken promptly after the new admins
tration takes Office. He added that he
did not feel like hazarding an opinion
as to how a proposal for disarma-
ment conference would be received
abroad, nor would he suggest method
Of procedure through which the at
tempt might be made.
Mr.. Roots letter evoked a sharp re-
ply tonight from Senator Borah, of
Idaho, sponsor for the disarmament bill
pending in the Senate. In q stateme mt
Senator Borah deplored Mr.. Roots
lending his influence to delay the con-
sideration of world ~disarmament and ex-
pressed doubt whether President-elect
Harding would wish to approve sug-
gestionl for delay. The Idaho Senator
asserted that delay was one of the
methods used for killing disarmament
Program, but insisted that the move
ment could not be checked
Mr.. Roots Letter
The text Of Mr.. Roots letter follows {:
II have your letter of January Ia
asking an opinion to aid your COM
mittee in considering an estimate for
additional ships Of war requiring for
/ their completion the sum of $107,-
$4,000.
II do not feel like hazarding an
opinion as to what reply other gov
(, ernments might make to suggestion
from our government for the appoint
ment of representatives to meet for
the purpose of discussing the ques-
tion Of total or partial disarmament.
II feel strongly that steps should
be taken promptly after the new ad-
C%rn cA&l u
about general agreement on that
question. It is plainly impracticable
to accomplish this before the change
of administration.
The precise method of procedure
through which the attempt should be
made think ought to be determined
after and not before Mr. Harding and
his Secretary of State have had an
opportunity to inform themselves and
to reach conclusions as to the way
which affords the best prospect of
success. Action on your part, based
upon any opinion which you can form
now as the best method of proce-
dure, might prove to be just the
wrong thing and might create OBJ
stacles to success instead of helping
it along.
"The subject is especially difficult
because of the disturbed condition Of
eastern Europe, and it is difficult be-
cause too many nations have special
apprehensions of danger against
which they wish to guard. The new
administration will soon learn what
is the best way to deal with these
difficulties. 1t may be that they can
not all be dealt with in the same
way or by the same process.
II think this expresses my view as
fully as could do if 4 were to 90 to
Washington and appear before your
committee" ,
Borah Is Fighting Delay
In his statement replying to Mr..
Root Senator Borah said:
Delay is one Of the methods pecu-
liarly adapted to killing any program
CONTINUED on nest pass)