Evening star., 1921-06-07
PRESIDENT PRAISES
D|SARM|NG ACTION
Considers House Resolution
Satisfactory-Senate Now
Likely to Accept Change.
By DAVID LAWRENCE.

President Harding today told Repre-
sentative Mondell. republican leader
of the House. that he was well salts
fled with the resolution proposed by
the House concurring in the execu-
tive's views on disarmament. and the
prospect now is that the Senate.
which adopted the Borah amendment.
will accept the House substitute.
What might have been a disagree
able situation as between the two
houses has been avoided by the tact
of the republican leaders in the House.
who made the disarmament resolu-
ton sufficiently broad to carry weight
in international councils. The Presi-
dent was told by Mr. Mondell that the
House felt very strongly that the
money it had appropriated for the
Navy was quite sufficient. and that
members did not look with friendly
eyes on the increases made in the
Senate. The naval bill now is in con-
ference between the two houses. and
while ii looks as if compromise will
be worked out Mr.. Harding may be
called upon to adjust the differences
as to naval appropriations.
II the copferees do not agree and
embarrassing situation will arise for
the executive. 1t will be the first
time that the President will have be-
fore him the concrete question of Ee-
t.duction of armament. He. has thus
far expressed himself in gefleral terms
sion that America must not disarm
alone"
Sentiment in Congress-.
Nevertheless there Is a considerab BILE
sentiment in Congress to the effect
that America should make her ser
mons on disarmament square with her
performances and that the time to
give the world an example is the
present, when all eyes are turned on
the American Congress.
The question as to what the point
is to which armaments may be re-
duced consistent with domestic safety
is entirely too broad and too con-
troversial to expect agreement in
Congress at this stage of the disarma-
ment discussion, when other nations
have not given evidence of the lengths
to which they are willing to go in
reducing armament. Accordingly Mr..
Harding is anxious to maintain Amer
ica's naval and military program for
the present. while at the same time he
believes he>has done his duty in ap-
preaching the other powers to deter
mine what may be agreed upon with
respect to suspension of naval
building. The whole thing is in a
preliminary status. but the American
view has been sent to Ambassador
Harvey, SO that it may be informally
communicated to the other govern
ments at the supreme councils next
meeting.
Senator BOrah Pleased.
Meanwhile. Senator Borah looks or
we'll pleased that through his single
effort the administration was com.
PEELED to tackle the disarmament ques.
cannot very well insist upon his owr
amendment. which provided for a con.
ference only between the United
States, Japan and Great Britain, be.
cause the new proposal would include
all powers and would apply to mil.
itary as well as naval forces. On the
other hand, the administration takes
the credit for a broad expression OF
the subject of disarmament as en-.
! publican Leader Mondell, with the full
support of President Harding.
! So; both sides are satisfied, and out
| of it all there issues a definite state.
ment that America will disarm il the
other powers will agree. On top OF
| this comes a statement from George
N. Barnes. conservative British labor
| leader and spokesman of British sen
| timent, that England is ready to NEE
! but that japan is the difficulty. TIL.
growth of a liberal movement in ia.
pan is counted upon to help the dis
armament cause in that. country, bu'
| il begins to look as if the whole ques
! ton of reducing armaments will de-
pend, as it always has. upon the. sun
| -Wontinued on Page 2, Column g.