The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-12
BORAH PLEADS
FOR F|vE-YEAR
naval TRUCE
Urges World Powers to Call
Complete Holiday on
Ship Building.
DEMANDS BOLD MOVE
Now Is Time to DiSarm,
Declares Famous
Statesman.
BY RAY TUCKER
Times stan Correspondent

Times Htah Correspondent
WASHINGTON, Sept. 12-An
appeal that the world powers-the
United States, Great Britain,
France, Japan, and Italy-proclaim
five-year holiday on all naval
construction to promote world peace
and economic recovery was voiced
today by Senator William E. Borah,
chairman of the senate foreign re-
lations committee and author of
the historic disarmament call in
1921.
Although Borah did not say so
definitely, he indicated that he
thought the United States should
assume the leadership in such a
movement. The financial crisis in
Great Britain and the United States
he declared, revealed the need for
lifting the tremendous burdens of
ornaments, which amounted to
$4,168 100000 in 1890, from the
shoulders of the taxpayers.
Il should like TO see an effort
made to obtain a naval holiday
covering all construction on the
part of these five powers" said the
senator in a message to the Scripps-
Howard newspapers, "for the term
Of five years, or for as long as can
be obtained.
Outlines National Crises
England has a crisis over the
matter of reducing the allowance
to the unemployed. 1t seems to me
1t might be possible instead to re-
duce the budget for ornaments.
The United States is passing her
deficit, her current expenses, on to
posterity-a thing almost unheard
of in this country. The people in
both countries by the millions are
in financial distress, and are unable
to pay their taxes.
1T seems to me that we might
move boldly in the matter of lift
ing a part of the armament burden.
And if we can bring this about, it
will be about the only advance we
are going to make soon in the mat
ter Of easing the burden of arma-
ment costs.
'The great powers of the world
have signed pacts for the renuncia-
ton of war They have agreed to
limitation of their fleets. They are
looking forward to further efforts
to reduct both military and naval
establishments.
Far Ahead of Leaders
Every statesman proclaims his
desire for a reduction of these in
tolerable expenditures which retard
worldwide economic recovery.
1.-THE people, in my opinion, are
far ahead of their leaders in this
respect, for it is they who suffer
most from the terrific taxes piling
up from maintenance of great
armies and navies Money that
should go to provide people with
jobs should not be used to make
more ships of war.
I'VE all want disarmament. We
all talk disarmament Now 10 the
time to disarm."
Adoption of the Borah program
by the five powers automatically
would stop further construction OF
the ships authorized in the London
naval treaty, which are estimated
to cost about $4,000 100000 for the
principal participants and $1,000
100000 for the United States alone
Would Save Huge Sums
1t also would permit additional
economies in that maintenance ex-
penditures for new ships, which viii
AMOUNT to about $50,000,000 add.
tionai each year with the compile
ton of our present program, would
be avoided
Roughly, Borah's proposal woulC
mean an annual saving to TIT
United States estimated to rang
from $70,00O00O to $200,00O,O O
through the next five years. Tn
discrepancy rests in the fact tina
there are conflicting proposals a
to the speed with which the treat,
navy should be built.
Borah's program is an elaboration
of the plea of Dino Grandi, Italy
IOI6lSll llllklloJC4s oA410 oAAC ROWNA
postpone all naval construction 70
at least one year. Others hav
urged delay in building up to tn
London treaty standard pendin
the outcome of the Geneva gather
ing, for which high hopes are he'll
by the Hoover administration.
To all the proposals, Presiden
Hoover is represented as giving
sympathetic ear" although variou
plans for spending large sums O
new naval construction are unde
official consideration by Hoover an
the budget bureau.
May Strike Right Chord
There are indications, howeve
that the senator's appeal may strik
a responsive chord in official circle
as he did when he proposed
general disarmament conferenC
back in 1921. President Hardin
demurred to it, and the late Hem
Cabot Lodge, then chairman of tn
foreign relations committee, pooh
poohed 1t as "Borah's dream"
But in a few weeks, Charl'
Evans Hughes, than secrtary
state, hoped train for New Havel
and there delivered an addre
embodying Borahs whole program
AS a result of the changed a.
titude on the part of the Hardin
administration resulting from POI
ulaF support Of Borah's deman
the United States sponsored ii
washington arms conference in Il
fall of 1921 and the Dawes Econom
conference at Paris in 1922.