DISARMAMENT.

Taranaki Daily News, 2 June 1921, Page 5

DISARMAMENT.

AMERICA’S PROPOSALS, AIMING AT A CONFERENCE, . STEP TOWARDS NEW LEAGUE. By Telegraph.—Press Assn.—Copyright. Received June 1, 8.10 p.m. Washington, May 31. It is learned that President Harding sent out informal feelers, looking to the day when a disarmament discussion would take place between the world Powers, before the Senate passed the Borah amendment calling for such a conference. Although details are not divulged it is said President Harding suggested that the question should be considered by the Supreme Council. President Harding's feelers constitute the initiation of an experiment of the association of nations and the first step towards a new league, which would serve the purpose, so far as America is concerned, for which the present League of Nations was organised. It aims at the gradual .development of the Supreme Council to assume the functions of the League, and if it brings the limitation of armaments in its constitution as a new league it will coincide with President Harding’s views.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.

[Last week the Senate unanimously passed Senator Borah’s disarmament amendment to the Naval Appropriation Bill, requesting President Harding to call a conference of Britain, Japan and the United States to arrange a fiveyear building holiday. The amendment was not debated, the Administration's opposition being removed. It is expected that the amendment will be passed by the House of Representatives without trouble.]

ANGLO-AMERICAN WAR.’ WOULD END CIVILISATION. NAVAL DEBATE IN SENATE. Received June 1, 10.25 p.m. Washington, June I. Mr. Irvine L. Lenroot (a Republican, of Wisconsin), opposing a five hundred million dollar naval appropriation in the Senate, said an Anglo-American war would end civilisation. He frankly favored America retaining second place, and saw no reason why she should attempt to outstrip Britain.

Mr. Poindexter (chairman of the Naval Affairs Committee) said if he wanted war he would ask for a little, weak Navy. As soon as Britain and Japan realised that America was helpless they would begin the assertion of their rights in an offensive way here and there; not that this was the policy of these nations, but it was the inevitable result of a strong power dealing with a weak one.—Aus.-N.Z. Cable Assn.