Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-12-28
ADMINISTRATION PLANS
To KILL b0RAHS MOVE
FOR SMALL ARMS MEET
Lodge Takes Lead Against Idaho Senator'S Pro-
posal to Call World Conference to Consider
Limitation of Small Fighting Craft and for
Economic Farley; France Against Reduction.

auxiliary types, he said, bnt NJ. Bri-
and notified Secretary Hughes that it
would be impossible for France TO &C
cept reduction of such craft, in view
of the sentiment Of her people and Of
her legislators.
Great Britain then proposed aboli-
ton Of the use of submarines. he on
tinued, but TO this all Of the other
powers objected and the only thing the
United States could do was to bring
about a limitation of the calibre Of
| guns on craft below 10000 tons.
The Massachusetts senator pointed
out that France and Italy alone of the
powers participating in the arms con
ference had failed to ratify the result
ing treaties, and added:
Il hope, and / believe, however, that
France will ratify the treaties Of
Washington within a short time"
Declaring he was without informa-
ton as to whether France. Holland.
Japan and Italy, who all had objected
to limiting small naval craft, now were
ready to consider it, Senator Lodge
concluded:
"As IN the case of land armament.
it would be perfectly idle to take the
responsibility for calling a conference
to consider armament limitation that
were rejected only a year ago unless
we had the assurance from the pow
ers invited that they were ready to
consider limitations. 1t would not
do any harm except to put us in an
absurd position. but it certainly would
not DO any good"
Urges u. S. to Compete
Senator Lodge said he WAS inform
ed of the competition among other
powers in small naval craft, submar-
ines and aircraft. permissible under
the Washington treaty, and he urged
that the United States should build
more light armored cruisers, airplane
carriers and aircraft.
The proposal in the Borah amend
ment for a international economic
conference. Senator Lodge said. was
new legislation and subject TO a point
Of order which he added undoubtedly
would be made against it. lie read the
text Of the proposal and called atten-
ton that it was very broadly drawn"
1T has no boundaries" he declared.
1T can be extended from the heavens
above to the earth beneath. II we
are to consider it here we ought to
know before We do what powers their
conference would have and what the
resolution authorizing it means
The amendment as drawn, he in
sisted, would not prevent the proposed
conference from considering foreign
debts due the United States, and any
treaty that might result would over
ride the act of congress for the fund
ing of these debts.
Foreinn Debts Discussed
The question of foreign debts. Sen
ator Lodge said, should be excluded
from conference discussion and set
tied by the United States alone" He
declared America desired to deal fair
ly and generously" with her debtors
but he said he would not care to have
the debts settled by other powers.
The Borah proposal also, Senator
continued. would bring the Uni
ted States into the PREPARATIONS debate.
He added that I'VE are seeking 40 re
parations," and that in his opinion the
United States should not enter into
any negotiations at the conference.
The question Of advancing loans from
the treasury to Germany and France.
he said. would be covered also by the
amendment, while the United
States should be left free "to give
whore and what it will"
There are many other things in