The New York herald., 1922-02-08
President Wants Army and
Navy Personnel Cut to
Safety Minimum.
BORAH DEMANDS ACTION
Insists America Should With
draw Troops From Rhine
Without Delay.

Special Dispatch to THE NEW YORK HERALD.
New York Herald Bureau.
Washington. ID. C., Feb. Z.
The treaties adopted by the arma-
ment conference relating to the Pa
cifc, the limitation of naval arma-
ment and China will go to the Senate
probably this week.
This official statement was made at
the White House to-day where it be-
came known that President Harding
is anxious that the treaties be acted
consideration Of such important docu-
ments.
1t has not been decided whether the
President will accompany the treaties
forward to ratification. and does not
believe they can be improved by res
lervations.
The President made it clear how inn
portant is early consideration of the
treaties. While they are pending the
United States cannot determine it's
policy in the Pacific, where the status
quo in Notifications is to prevail
Harding Issues Orders.
In keeping with the spirit of Article
XIX. Of the naval treaty. which delimits
the status quo fortiication area. the
| President already has given orders
stopping any further Improvement or
strengthening Of the fortiications at
Guam and in the Philippines.
Secretary Weeks announced to-day
he had stopped the shipment of twenty
155 nm. guns to the Philippines The
guns were already on transport.
The President has issued an order also
stopping further work on the ships that
are to be scrapped under the terms of
the treaty, but no ship will be scrapped
until an exchange of ratilcations Of the
treaties has taken place.
While the United States has stopped
the work of strengthening its fortifica-
tions in the status quo regions of the
Pacific, there Is nothing to stop other
nations from increasing the~strength or
their own fort fica tions in the same re-
gion prior 10 nnal ratification of the
treaties exert n similar nice apprecia-
tion Of the spirit of the agreement
reached.
Another problem before the President
is the question of reduction in the naval
personnel. The President expects a cut
in the personnel but has not decided
upon its extent nor can he determine
when it shall be done. At present the
personnel comprises about 100000 or
10000 men. The President believes
. this should be cut, but not lower than
10000 or $4,000 men. There probably
will be further reductions in the army.
but neither can this be decided until II
is decided whether the Senate will ratify
the documents.
ReIationship of League.
Members of the Senate have interested
themselves In the relationship which the
! League of Nations will have to the new
covenants. Article XVIII. of the league
covenant provides that all members OF
J the league shall register treaties made
by them and that they shall not be
binding until so registered with the
league secretariat.
This provision does not apply to the
United States. which is not a member
of the league, but Senators are wonder
ing just how much. if any. approval
J of the league will be involved in ne
gotiating treaties with nations which
cannot make binding treaty without
subscribing to conditions laid down by
the League of Nations.
Efforts will be made In tho Senate
to force President Harding's hand in
making reductions In navy and army be-
fore the treaties are ratified This pro-
gram was indicated in a statement made
. to-day by Senator Borah of Idaho. He
said
"The work Of the disarmament con-
ference should be Immediately trans
lated as far as possible into reduction
of governmental expenditures We had
an army of 10000 men and about 1906
officers before the conference was
called If we felt secure with an army
Of this size prior to the conference, II
would seem therefore, in view OF the
t accomplishments of the conference. that
, we ought to reduce the army to 100000
men at the very most and one-hah the
number of officers. This would result
in a saving of nearly 500 co., 600 year.
Evidence of American Faith.
1T would also be the best evidence
of our own faith I'm the program in
itiated at the conference. The United
States can have no possible use for
|. 10000 men and 1900 officers for merely
police purposes or domestic use. I see
no way to reduce expenditures to any
considerable amount except in this way.
and I firmly believe that any program
: of economic rehabilitation which does
!, not include q radical cut in taxes will
! be a failure.
't do not know az this time what cuts
can be made i'm the naval appropriation
. bill. but of course the principle should
be carried into that bill also. In this
, connection IL seems there Is no pos
= sibo reason for our leaving our troops
any longer on the Rhine. The balance
should be brought home. not only as
matter of economy-because. while
Germany Is supposed to be paying for
: their maintenance. we are. In fact. pay
: ing it--but for still more important
reason. we should get out of Europe
= with our troopa II Poincare is going
TO carry out his policy We havn't any
business there whatever"
~
: MAsoNs TO HONOR DIR. KANE.
l.. Charles l.. Chevria. merchant arrived