The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-03-26
Chairman Madden Joins Ranks of Those Who Hold
 Modernization Plan Violates Spirit of 5-5-3 Ratio. Wants Navy to Decide
U. S. WILL SET PACE IF PLAN IS CARRIED OUT
Great Britain Denies That She Has Done Any Moder- nization Work-Madden to Protest Against Spending
 Millions Made Available

wASHINGTON, March 25.-Inter- iretation of the 5-5-3 naval ratio negotiated at the Washington arms conference gives promise of being live subject in the next Congress ments smooth out in the meantime the tangle over the navys battle- sl p modeinization plan.
 Those who fought the plan in the last Congress, on the ground that the United States proposed to violate at least the spirit of the treaty by strengthening the older capital ships. found their ranks strength ened today by Chairman Madden of the House Appropriations committee. who declared he believed the work would be out of harmony with the agreement.
 MT. Madden said that when the House appropriated s6,500,000 for the work it stipulated that the navy de- rartment should definitely establish its right under the treaty to em- bark on it's program. Navy officers at that time. he said, stressed the strengthening of older ships by Great Britain and Japan and as- serted that there would be no viola ton of the treaty in the plans of the navy department
 Britain Enters Denial.
 Inasmuch as ureat Britain has denied modernization work at tributed to her navy, however, the whole subject has resolved into one of treaty interpretation.
 Meanwhile with s6,500,000 avail able the United States'i is faced with the alternative of holding up it's program or setting. precedent under the treaty, at least so far as inc American- British ratio is con- ctrned. Information on Japanese naval Improvements is rather hay.
 Chajrmais Madden has arpo'ineea that in view of the British disclaimer he would protest against the expen, allure Of the money appropriated bv Congress for battleship work on the ground the action had been taken under the apprehension that other governments had already strengthened their fleets in similar way. A determined fight developed in the House at the time the ap- nronriation was authorized, group of members asserting that treaty violation was contemplated.
 When Chairman Butler Of the House naval committee brought In bill to authorize the expenditure, ne offered an amendment to the com ,,,ittee draft making the work sub iact to the terms of the treaty.
 offers Amendment.
 After consultation with my col. leagues and members of the House, said MT. Butler, Il have ofIered thls amendment and l nope thG nouso ~ will be willing to accept 1t. It seems there is some doubt in the minds or snme members whether or not we were in any way violating the terms of the treaty we made by autnorlz- ing the navy department to improve the ships which we are allowed eo maintain. . c.or. tarv of the Navy that this work that was to be put upon the shlps would not be in violation or the terms or the treaty and not even III violation of its spirit. Permit me i 10 say for the information Of my col ieaeues-and I myself am included with them, of course-that we are ali extremely anxious that this treaty shall be kept not only in let ter but also in spirit.
 Further, we inquired particuiarrs 2. y and with as much diligence as we could whether or not this would Tn anv way violate the terms of the treaty, Being assured that 1t would not and wanting to make IL doupiy sure, for that reason l offer tnis amendment. which I ask the House to adopt"
 Want Good Navy.
 Ii was pointed out today by MT. Nadden that a similar restriction was in the appropriation bill author izing the expenditure and that there was nothing in that measure which would force the navy department to carry out it's plans so long as there was doubt of it's consonance with treaty rights.
 we want navy as good as that ne any other nation," said MT. Mad den. but we do not want to embark on a program in violation of our
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