The Washington herald., 1922-04-10
Minority of House Com.
mittee Plans to Fight
Reduction.
READY TO DEMAND
$4,000 PERSONNEL
Report Charges Attempt
To Ignore Basic Pol
icy of Treaty.

Lines are drawn for a determined
struggle in the House over the
naval appropriations bill. which
would reduce the personnel of the
navy to $1,000.
On one side are a.rayed President
Harding, Secretary DENLY, high
naval officers and representatives,,
who support the view that the re-
ductions proposed by the bill would
destroy the $3.50 ratio and put the
American navy in third place.
On the other side are Chairman
Madden, of the Appropriations Com
mittee; Representative Kelley
chairman of the subcommittee that
framed the bill. and a large num-
ber of economy advocates and sup
porters of the argument that $1,000
men can properly man the fleet
Asks for $1,000 men.
The administration is making ev.
cry effort to obtain authorization
for $4,000 men. and is utilizing all
its influence to line up the House.
In anticipation of debate on the
bill. whihc is to begin today. halt
a dozen members of the Appropria.
tions Committee have filed a minor
ity report advocating the 5000 fig.
ure. This report is said to represent
the administration views. In addi.
tion, other members of the HOUSE
have sharply criticised the actor
of the Appropriations Committee.
Minority report is signed by Rep
resentatives Tinkham, of Massachu
setts. Ware. of Pennsylvania. Wasol
of New Hampshire. Magee and Hu
sted, of New York. and Gallivan. o
Massachusetts,. All are Republican
except GalIivan. 1t declares tha
the appropriation bill ignores tn
ratio established by the arms con
ference. and seeks to place Americi
in a position inferior to eithe
Britain or Japan.
Sees basic Policy Ignored.
1--WE fnd nothing in the provis
ions of the bill that would justif
the assumption that it does in fac
provide adequately for a navy o
relative strength contemplated b,
the treaty" says the report. Tn
underlying principle on which ii
the future the strength of our nav,
must he determined is its strength
in relation to Japan. This Is tn
policy of the $50 ratio.
THE bill ignores this basi
policy and bears no reference to tn
other powers whose strength mus
determine our proportion in thi
ratio. This bill is an attempt Z
ignore the agreement, to disregar
the navies of Great Britain an
Japan. to give us the smallest fore
Of the three and TO establish a prin
ciple for which no responsible
statesman in the worlds History ha
ever stood-the principle of limi
tation of armament by example"
Report Makes Comparisons.
The report warns that IL Amer
lea sinks to a third-rate power sh
will have little voice in futur
| world councils. 1t criticises the pro
posed reduction in the number o
destroyers. and the scrapping o
eagle boats and subchasers.
Comparison is made with Japal
and Britain. and II is contende,
their personnel will far. outranl
Americas. This country shoul,
have 10000 men in its navy. i
japan is to have $4,000, 1t i
claimed.
I'VE maintain that both the spiri
and the letter of the naval treat,
is violated in this BILL" says tn
report. 1T neither maintains a,
adequate. efficient navy nor up
holds our proportion in the 5-5-
ratio"
Representative Macarthur, OF Or
egon. member Of the Naval Affair
Committee of the House. predicte,
revolt against the syst9m of hav
ing all appropriations originat
with one committee. The Naya
Affairs Committee, Macarthur said
was completely ignored in the prep
aration. of the pending bill, al
though it is supposed to legislat
on matters of naval policy. H
will offer an amendment to in
crease the personnel to $4,000.
Fear Knockout of Navy.
I'VE are in this fight to win, an
believe that an overwhelming ma
iority of the American people ar
behind u.s." Macarthur said.
: Representative Rogers, of Massa
chusetts, declared the bill woul,
scrap the naval treaty"
The House has paralyzed tn
army" said Rogers. Now it threat
ems to knock out the navy alto
gether The bill would make Amer
lea a second -class naval power"
Similar views were expressed b,
Representative Britten, of Illinois
"If that bill had been framed b,
the British and Japanese delegate
to the armament conference, instea,
of by. an American Congressiona
committee. and IL they had intende,
to wreck our navy, they could no
have more deliberately reduced tn
United States to a .hird-class nava
power than the appropriation b:l