Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1930-07-18
NEWS REVIEW OF
CURRENT EVENTS
Senate Begins Battle Over
London Naval Treaty
"The Papers" Asked.
BY EDWARD W. PIcKARD

GALLED in special session by Pres
~ ident Hoover, the senate last week
began consideration of the London
naval treaty. Only IS members-nine
more than quorum-answered the
roll call the first day. During the
week some more returned to the Ma
tional Capital, while several others
departed on various missions.
A message from the President
opened the proceedings He urged
ratification of the treaty, which he ex-
planned and defended at considerable
length. Mr.. Hoover said that on jan
uary 1 last the ratios of the three
naval powers in ships actually built
were: The United States, 100; Great
Britain, 113, and Japan, Go, while I'M
der the treaty they will be: United
States, 100; Great Britain, 1924, and
Japan, G3.6.
With regard to the criticism that
the American delegation accepted an
agreement providing three fewer eight
inch gun cruisers than our navy gen.
eral board had declared the irreduci-
BILE minimum, the President said that
this objection ''revolves around less
than 3 per cent of our whole fleet"
And the question as to this 3 per cent
of tonnage, he added, is whether 3d.
900 tons of ships armed with eight
inch guns are better than $4,000 tons
armed with a 6 inch guns" question
upon which "our high naval authori-
ties are divided"
Every solitary fact which affects
Judgment upon the treaty is known"
said the President in conclusion, 'and
the document itself comprises the sole
obligation of the United States. If
we fail now the world will be again
plunged backward from its progress
toward peace
TINE administration forces con-
Il tinued confident that the pact
would be ratified, but they were given
much concern by the determined at
tempt to have the President transmit
to the senate the suppressed docu-
ments which he had declined to give
up. Senator Mcclellan of Tennessee
led this fight and was supported not
only by other opponents of the treaty
but also by some who had announced
their intention of voting for ratifi-
cation
"The demand we are making is
demand of right on the part of the CO.
equal of the Executive in treaty max
ing" said Senator Mcclellan, land
consequently cannot be incompatible
with the public interest
On the other hand, Senator Reed of
Pennsylvania, one Of the delegates to
London, who has had access to the
secret documents, more than intimated
that they contain picturesque animad'
versions by Ambassador Charles G.
Dawes upon Prime Minister MacDon-
aid and other British statesmen, the
disclosure of which would necessitate
recall of the ambassador and other
wise play havoc with Anglo-American
relations.
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, an
other delegate, limited the same thing,
saying: "Some of these messages
contain references to other govern
ments which if disclosed might make
us ridiculous. Such resentments might
be created in other countries that the
treaty would not be ratified by them"
Finally a modified resolution was
adopted by vote of SO to requesting
the President to submit to the senate
all documents bearing on the treaty,
.'if not incompatible with the public
interest to do So 1t also asked the
President to make recommendations as
to their use.