Arizona republican., 1922-04-10
NOT
IN FAVOR Of
NAVY BUDGET
Five Republicans And One
Democrat Vigorously At
tack Reduction In United
States Naval Forces
TRepubIlean a. >. Leased WInel

@FMSE0
WASHINGTON. April a-Tre pro-
posal of the house appropriation
committee for navy in 1928 OF $1,000
men and e,S56 officers was vigorously
attacked today in minority report
signed by five Republicans and one
Democrat in statements issued by
Representative britton of Illinois and
Macarthur OF Oregon, Republican
members of the house naval com
mittee.
A reduction of the naval forces of
the United States to the extent rec
commended by the committee would
ignore the basic naval policy. set
down by the arms conference the
minority report declared. asserting
that an enlisted personnel of $4,000,
with e,000 apprentices would be nee
essary 10 keep the United States
abrea tsof Great Britain and ahead OF
Japan.
Representative Britton said II the
bill ''had been framed by British and
Japanese delegates" with the inten-
ton OF wrecking the American navy,
they could not have more delib-
erately reduced the United States TO
q third rate power" while Repre-
sentative Macarthur said a canvass
he had made gave him hopes of the
adoption Of an amendment providing
for $4,000 men.
For the first time in its history,
said the minority report filed BY SIX
members of the appropriations COM
nittee, this country has adopted
naval policy. It means equality with
the strongest. IT that policy is now
disregarded by adoption of the naval
bill. we will sink to the rank of a
third rate naval power with little
voice in any future world councils.
mo one doubts that the potential
superiority OF the American navy
was the controlling factor in the ne
gotiations OF the recent conference.
Had our delegates negotiated a treaty
that placed this country below Great
Britain or Japan in naval strength.
tbey would have been denounced as
traitors not a single vote OF the
senate would have been recorded in
its favor-yet this bill proposed TO
place this country in that very posi-
ton"
The report was signed by Repre-
sentatives Tinklraill Massachusetts
Ware. Pennsylvania.; Wason. New
Har1ushire: Magee and Husted. New
York. Republicans; and GailiVan,
Massachusetts. Democrat.
.The underlying principle on when
in future the strength OF our navy
must be determined is its strength IN
relation to Great Britain and Japan
the report said. This is the policy
az the five-five three ratio, that Is
equality with Great Britain and iiNe-
three Of the strength of Japan.
=. sov,.o,.oc fhfe haclC nOlfCX
and bears no reference to the other
uowers whose strength must determ-
inc our proportion in this ratio.
'sThis bill is an attempt to disre--
gard the nayies OF Great Britain ana
Japan, to give us the smallest force
of the three and to establish prln-
ciple for which no responsible states
man in the worlds history has ever
stood--the principle of limitation OF
armament by example.
"The provisions of this bin are NOT
only in opposition to the basic naval
policy of the country but are IN oppo-
sition to the views Of President
Harding. Secretary DENLY, Assistant
Secretary Roosevelt, the chief OF
naval operations, the conn1an ander-ln-
chief of the fleet. the general BOARD
and of every officer that has been
called In the hearings.
.Janan. the minority declared con
templated an enlisted strength OF SS'-
25s which is over 1000 more than
allowed our navy"
"Under the 5-5-S ratio, il adoed,
I'VE should RIVE 10000 as compared
with Great Britain and 1lS,V0o as
compared with Japan
Prospects OF an amendment neing
added TO the 1928 naval bill providing
for 10000 enlisted men. "are excel
lent" Representative Macarthur OF
Oregon, also a Republican member OF
the committee. said. adding that his
prediction vas made after canvass
| ing the house membership.
IF the appropriations committee
continues this policy of attempting TO
legislate by Withholding funds for the
proper activities Of the government.
said the Oregon member "there viii
soon be revolt among house mem
bert and the present system OF CEN
| tralizing all appropriating power IN
one committee will be abandoned.