Evening star., 1922-02-07
SENATE LEADERS
PREPARE WAY FOR
TREATIES ON ARMS
Party Conferences to Be Held
Previous to Considera-
ton on Floor.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
President Harding will order sus-
pended air work on Navy sesseIs
now building which are destined
for the scrap heap under the naval
treaty, but will issue no final order
for discOntinuance Of the work un-
I'll the treaty II actually ratified. 1t
was said today mt the White House.
The President, 1t was stated, al
ready has ordered suspension OF
work on additional Notifications ON
the Island of Guam, and likewise
further Developments under way
in the Philippine Islands, taking
this action in view Of the clause Of
the naval trentZ-dxinE the status
quo for the Pacific islands of the
United States.
The President wnx represented
ns of the belief that >xome reduce
tiOns in the personnel Of the Army
and Navy would result from the
arms conference agreements, but
of reasonable RELATIVELY"
The Army in his opinion. 1t was
said. should not go beyond $1,000
men. the minimum for safety.
Senate leaders of both parties go
actividly to work today on plans
for the receipt and consideration OF
the international agreements evolv
ing from the arms conference, whicl
adjourned sine die yesterday.
Party conferences of senators TO
consideration of the treaties prior
to the time they are taken up on the
floor have been virtually determined
upon by both republican and demo.
cratic leaders. No dates have beer
set. but it was understood the meet.
ings Ito talk over the internationa
agreements likely would come early
next week.
Senator Lodge of Massachusetts ant
Senator Underwood of Alabama, botf
members of the American delegatio,
ard leaders in the Senate OF theil
respective parties. have been in
formed Of the almost unanimous de
sire of senators for the meetings ant
ing that full and free discussion
should be had. Among the demo
Gratis. the statement was made today
that democratic senators should know
how far their leader had gone il
supporting the treaties and what hi:
position had been when the action:
finally taken went beyond or fel
short of his propositions.
The whole thought appeared to bt
that the American delegates should
not be embarrassed by what one sen.
ator described as "the slipping Of
cogs' when the treaties are takeI
up formally on the floor of the Sen.
ate. Party policy obviously figures
in the situation. but representative
senators from both parties evidenced
a desire to have harmonious consid
Grafton of the subjects and to have
all senators in possession of full
facts.
Caucus Action Uncertain.
There was no hint given by lead.
ers of either party of an intent t
have the parties take caucus action
or attempt to bind senators to {
given proposition or stand. Senator
Underwood asserted that he though
a caucus action on the treaties woult
be improper. but added that con.
ference involving free and franl
discussion would be helpful.
The next step in the handling Of tn,
arms conference matters was said t.
be a report to the President by tn,
American delegates. This report, il
was understood, will be made prob
ably by the end of the week, and a
which, it was said, the whole stor,
without reserve" would be laid before
the President.
Indications were that the Senat,
meetings then would be next in orde
before the President formally pre-
sents the agreements and a reQues
for their ratification.