Evening Star Newspaper, February 10, 1927, Page 1

l WEATHER., “From Press to Home Within the Hour” The Star’s carrier system covers every city block and the regular edi- tion is delivered to Washington homes as fast as the papers are prigted. night; minimum temperature 28 de- grees; tomorrow falr, Temperature—Highest, 54, at 3:30 p.m. yesterday; lowest, 32, at 7 a.m. today. Full report on page 5. ¢ Toening Star. WITH SUNDAY MORNING EDITION Yesterday's Circulation, 105,648 (U. S. Weather Bureau Forecast.) ®Closing N.Y. Stocks Partly cloudy and slightly colder to- 30,235. No. post office, Wa: Entered as second class matte: and Bonds, Page 14 r shington, 3 D. C ch WASHINGTO THURSDAY, 1927—FORTY-SIX PAGES. e (#) Means Associated Pri VO CENTS. NORTHERN CHINESE OPEN BIC DRIVE ON CANTONESE FORCES Marshal Chang, Chief of War Lords’ Alliance, Sends His Troops by Four Routes. . S. MARINES ARRIVE FOR DUTY IN SHANGHAI British Also Expected Tomorrow to Augment Garrison—Transport Chaumont at Hawaii. By the Associated Press PEKING, February 10.—Marshal Chang Tso-Lin, head of the alliance »f northern war lords, announced to: day that the great joint campaign had begun in the war of the north against the south. ‘Armies of Chihli and Shantung Provinces of the Peking government, ®aid Chang, have begun the long- expected advance to recapture Hankow from the invading Natlonal- ist (Cantonese) forces and drive them Bouthward from their new capital on the Yangtse River in central China. The northern armies will not halt at the Yangtse, sald Chang's pro- nouncement, but will pursue the Can- tonese through Hunan Province to Canton in Kwangtung Province. Japan Reports Advance. SHANGHAI, China, February 10 A telegram from a Japanese source in Hankow states that Marshal Chang Tso-Lin's allied forces are ad- vancing to the south along four routes against the Cantonese. Marshal Wu Pei-fu, once lord of Central China, has requested Mar- shal Chang Tso-lin to state the num- ber of troops he- is sending into Honan Province and to refrain from advancing beyond Changteh, near its northern border, said Japanese dis- patches from Peking. 1f the troops of Chang stopped at Changteh, added Wu significantly, he would endeavor to arrange an under- standing between his troops and the northerners, thus avoiding possible conflict. U. §. MARINES IN SHANGHAR | British Troops Also Due There To- morrow, Says London. LONDON, February -10 (#).—The | arrival of 300 American marines in Shanghai is reported in an Exchange Telegraph dispateh wreceived here to- day. Two battalions of British trodps are expected tomorrow, the dispatch adds, Public opinien, so far as could be seen today, was unperturbed by the news that Britiéh troops were going to Shanghai instead of being diverted to Hongkong. The general public has been re- assured by such statements as those of Winston Churchill, chancellor of the exchequer, that Miles Lampson, the British Minister at Peking. is a man of keen judgment and wide ex- perience, and that Rear Admiral Sir Reginald Tyrwhitt, commander-in- chief of British naval forces in Chinese waters, is one of the most sober-mind- ed and coolest officers of the navy. Referring to the military situation in China, between the rival Cantonese and Peking forces, as uncertain and obscure, the .chancellor Intimated in the House of Commons yesterday that what happened in Shanghal would likely depend on the fighting now proceeding in the neighborhood of Hanchow, about 100 miles nouthwest of Shanghai. MARINES REACH HAWAIL Transport to Continue Toward Far East Tomorrow Afternoon. i HONOLULU, February 10 (#).— ‘The transport Chaumont arrived here last night with 1,200 American Ma- rines en route either tor Guam orj China and one Marine, who. despite his most ardent desire to get into ~ction, than the Hawailan Islands. i The minority member of the ship’s | passengers was Corp, Richard C. Har- rington, who deserted his company at San Diego and stowed away on the transport in his eagerness to engage in possible fighting in the Far East. “I didn’t care what punishment I got; 1 wanted to get into the excite- ment,” Harrington said. He express- @4 keen disappointment that he would be unable to continue the westward journey. In San Diego, when the motive behind Harrington's desertion was learned, it was predicted that he would escape court-martial. The Chaumont will sail tomorrow afternoon at 1 o'clock, but beyond that its salling orders are being Kept secret. ITALIAN PRESS SCORES U. S. ROME, February 10 (#).-—The pro- posal of the United States for the neutralization of the Shanghai zone is an “imperialistic gesture” intended to shift the center of the diplomatic negotiations on China from Kurope to the United: States, says La Tribun; which usually speaks for the gover ment. “It would not be surprising,” the ays, “if a proposal were made to hold & conference in Washington to reexamine the Chinese problem 1ike that of 1921. This gesture can- not be called by any hypocritical name of the social democratic, Masonic or even Anglo Saxon language, but must be characterized by a single word, namely, ‘imperialism.’ " Jt must be recognized by all the pations involved, continues La Tri- puna, that Shanghai is seriously menaced. “The Itallan government has given a good ekample of clarity and sincerity by seeing that part of the problem which is the problem of for Lamenting reports of the deviation of British troops to Hongkong, which is seen as a foolhardy delay which possibly may be productive of un- fortunate consequences, Giornale d'Ttalia_urges speedy military action. “Everybody who has dealt with the Chinese knows that they respond to iwo types of suggestion—money or force,” the paper says. If money for the purchased corruption of the Cantonese leaders no longer is ef- fective, it i% necessary 1o hasten Jorce.” paper 'Heavy Bombardment Forces will be no near the Orient | | Witness Hypnotized | To Get Truth, Judge Gets Year in Prison By the Associated Pross, KHARKOV, Russia, February 10. —Because he ordered a witness hypnotized in order tv abstract the truth, Judge Christopher Zakharov of the Provineial Court has been sentenced to a year in prison. Testimony in the case showed that the judge called ina hypnotist to work on a witness who had proved recalcitrant under ordinary methods of cross-examination. The only result was to throw the wit ness into a state of hysteria. REVOLT PUT DOWN LISBON DECLARES Insurgents to Yield—Many Reported Slain. By the Associated Pre Portugal has passed through an- other revolution, and President Car- mona’s dictatorship is still in power.| Dispatches from Lisbon today con-| firmed that the revolutionaries there surrendered after a 44-hour bombard- ment of the naval arsenal. Their principal stronghold, and today the bodies of those who fell during the fighting in various parts of the city | were being sought in the wreckage. The number of casualties is not known, but dispatches say many were killed, including non-combatants, The movement in Lisbon was} started in support of the revolt at Oporto, second largest city in Portugal, which broke out a week ago today| and continued until Monday night, when the revolutonaries surrendered. Gen. Souza Diaz, one of the chief rebels, has been reported among the killed at Oporto, but this has not been confirmed. The Libson insurgents included naval men, part of the Republican Guard, policemen and many civilians. Official dispatches from the Portuguese foreign office show that the cruiser Carvalhao Araujo went into action for the rebels until she was silenced by shore batteries. LISBON REPORTS VICTORY. Rebels Surrender in Night After Fierce Bombardment. i PARIS, February 10 (#).—Portu- gal's latest revolution is over, says a telegram recetved by the Portuguese | diplomatic representative here Jfrom the minister of foreign aftaies. The revolutionaries in Lisbon surrendered 1ast night. : The rebels surrendered after being beaten in every quarter, and those :h‘;) were barricaded in the arsenal ed. The cruiser Carvalhao Araujo, which joined the rebels yesterday, was silenced by the shore batteries. The crew ran up the white flag and took refuge aboard & German boat. i Fighting Was Flerce. | A dispatch to the Journal from a correspondent on the _Portuguese frontier describes the fighting be- tween the Loyalists and Insurgents at Oporto as of a flerce nature. At/ the height of the fighting, in a severe | snowstorm, many inhabitants fled | from the town. The government troops, seeking to dislodge the revolutionaries, opened fire on Oporto with 20 pleces, riddling (Continued on Page 5, Column 1.) > Pisk DIAZ SHIFTS FORCE FOR NEW BATILE Liberals, Beaten at Chinan- dega, Expected to Attack Matagalpa Shortly. By the Associated Press. MANAGUA, Nicaragua, February 10.—With Conservative forces now in control in Chinandega and the Lib- | erals reported to be in flight from | that town, the Conservative govern- ment, under President Diaz, is mak- ing preparations to meet an expected | attack by the Liberals on Matagalpa, | 75 miles northeast of Managua. | Liberal torces are reported to hel {approaching Matagalpa and Con- | servative troops are being rushed to the city to prevent its capture by the | Liberals. | Many Reported Killed. | Matagalpa is almost midway be-| | tween the Conservative capital, Man | agua, and Puerto Cabezas, headquar ters of the Liberal government unde: | President Sacasa. | The battle for the possession of | | Chinandega was one of the most | | sanguinary in the present conflict. | {The Conservatives lost 130 men | killed, while 200 were wounded; the | Liberal losses are placed at 200 | killed and 300 wounded. Eleven city | blocks, the Conservatives announce, { were destroyed by fire, the charge being made that the Liberals set fire to the town in order to burn out the Conservative garrison. President Diaz, in announcing his readiness to give up the presidency if the United States deemed it best that another man should take the office as a_means of furthering the interests of Nicaragua, declared he thought the United States Marines should remain in Nicaragua no mat- ter who held the reins of govern- ment. He said only by keeping the Marines here could revolutions be prevented, adding: “I always opposed removing the Marines from Nicaragua, and 1 wel- come their return to aid our nation.” A RS Reds Shoot Czarists. LENINGRAD, Russia, February 10 (®).—Three former Czarist officials were executed by a firing squad today for alleged illtreatment of revolu- | the proposed_adaition MELLON REQUESTS { Mr. Mellon pointed out, Congress BUILDING T0 HOUSE COURTS AND DEEDS Commissioners Draft Plan as| Substitute for One Blocked by Budget. $900,000 IS ESTIMATED AS TOTAL COST LIMIT Proposal to Place Recorder in Dis- trict Building Addition Was Opposed. With their efforts to locate the office of the recorder of deeds in the pro posed addition to the District Bullding i ! blocked by the Bureau of the Budget. | i i | | | the Commissioners today adopted as an alternative a plan calling for the | construction of an independent build- | ing which would house the office of | the recorder of deeds, the Municipal and Juvenile Courts. The Commissioners drafted a bill} authorizing the acquisition of a site | and the construction of the building at a total cost not in excess of $900, 000, and sent it to the Budget Bureau to determine whether this new proj- ect would run into conflict with the President’s financial program. The limit of cost of the site was fixed at $250,000 and the bullding at $650,000. | Rent Now Is $20,800 Yearly. The District, the Commissioners ex- plained in a communication to Brig. Gen. Herbert M. Lord, director of the bureau, is now paying a total of $20,- 800 a vear for the rental of buildings or parfs of bulldings now occupied by the recorder of deeds, the Munici- pal and Juvenile Courts. The rental for the four floors of the Century | Building used by the recorder of deeds amounts to $14,000 annually. | The building ocupled by the Municipal Court on John Marshall place costs $4,800 a year in rental, while the tem- porary Government building at New | Jersey avenue and C street rents for | $2,000. The original plan of the Commis- sloners provided for the location of | the office of the recorder of deeds in ope n_to the District | (Continued on Page 5, Column 4.) A R SN UNDERCOVER FUND $500,000 Needed to Detect| Big Liquor Conspiracies, Secretary Insists. Defending under-cover work of Fed- erai agents in enforcing prohibition and narcotic laws Secretary Mellon today sent to Congress a proposed bill which would allow the use of Federal | funds for this type of work. An esti- mate of $500,000 in the Treasury ap- propriation bill for the next fiscal year had been stricken out on a point | of order that would have put a stop to under-cover work. “The use of certain funds as ad- vanced monies is absolutely essential | to the successful enforcement of these laws,” said Secretary Mellon. The proposed bill, the Secretary sald, “will remedy this situation by providing that the Secretary of the Treasury, with the approval of the President, may make available for advances for this purpose from appro- priations already made, such sums as he deems necessary.” Believes Congress Approves. “This act is recommended by the department,” said the Secretary, “in the bellef that the Congress does not intend the executive department to thus be serlously handicapped in the matter of law enforcement.” Beginning with the fiscal year 1922, in the appropriation act for each fiscal year had authorized the Treasury De- partment to use a designated portion of the moneys appropriated as an ad- vance fund in securing evidence of vio- lations of the narcotic and prohibition laws. When this appropriation of half a million dollars, which had been standing for five years, was stricken out on a point of order, Secretary Mel- lon sald, “it leaves the department without authority to use any portion whatever of the appropriation for se- curing evidence in this matter.” Big Conspiracies Faced. In support of the bill, the Secretary quoted at length from a supplemen- tary report recently sent from the department to the President of the Senate. had declared that the country was tinuing conspiracies.” ‘“*It must be recognized,’ said Sec- retary Mellon, in quoting from ‘that violations are nation-wide in number. | ilegal operations that develop and | maintain the sources of supply and the wholesale distribution. Illegal traffic of this character and on such a scale {s a menace to the stability of well ordered society and to the com- mon welfare. FLYERS GO TO LA PAZ. Americans Will Remain in Boliv- ian Capital Until Tomorrow. AREQUIPA, Peru, February 10 (P). ~—~The United States “‘good-will" avia- tors, who have left their planes at Ilo and are on the way by rail to La Paz, the Bolivian capital, to extend greetings to President Siles, will re- main in Arequipa until Friday. They reached here yesterday morn- In this message the Treasury | “faced with numerous, bad and con-| the | previous statement sent to the Senate, | their occurrence and almost without | To meet this condition the | Federal Government must concentrate | its efforts on the large, well organized, | ¢ SENATE AND HOUSE DEBATE FARM BILL Haugen Opens Fight in Lower Branch—Final Vote in Sight. By the Associated Press With a finai vote in sight within the next few days by both branches of Congress, Senate and House today | gave over their time to the airing of the diverse views of members over the McNary-Haugen bill, which has been given the legislative right of way. Chairman Haugen of the House ag riculture committee, whose name the measure bears, led off for its advo- cates in the House with the assertion that it represented the best thought of the country’s agricultural minds, while In the Senute Senator Nve, Re- publican, North Dakota, declared that unless it were enacted the farmers would be driven to drastic action. Nye Opens Senate Debate. “If the bill is revolutionary in char- acter,” Nye said, “let us not forget that we are charged with dealing with a condition most revolutionary in character. That backers of the McNary-Haugen measure will have to fight off consid- erable opposition was indicated by the | oratorical fireworks that were ignited yesterday In the Senate and House, which culminated in adoption by the latter of a resolution providing for im- mediate consideration of the bill, with general debate limited to 12 hours. After this, amendments will be in or- der. Prior to this action, taken without a record vote, the House rejected, 216 to 146, a motion to give similar legisla- tive status to the Curtis-Crisp bill, which omits the equlaization fee. The agricultural situation was pic tured in g discussion in both houses 3s one of the most serious ever to con- front the Nation. Much of the debate for and against the McNary-Haugen plan, however, was along lines similar to that of the last three years during which the question has been before Congress. Banking Bill as Club. Senator Wheeler, Democrat, Mon- tana, served notice that he would strive to prevent final action on the McFadden branch banking bill until President Coolldge signed the Mc- Nary-Haugen measure. He is ex- pected to be supported in this move by those Democratic and Republican Senators who refused to become a party to the agreement between sup- porters of the two measures to in- voke cloture on both unless voting deadlines were fixed. Wheeler also warned that he would again seek an investigation of forces working to the farmer's detriment, and charged Secretaries Mellon, Jar- dine and Hoover with being un- friendly to agriculture. Only a few Senators took part in the discussion on the right side of the Copitol, while on_the left more than half a dozen Representatives entered the debate for and against the equalization levy proposal. Sup- porters claimed the bill would not raise living costs and attacked the stand taken by Eastern newspapers on the question, while opponents lashed the proposals as a price-fixing and unconstitutional measure and laid the farmer’s ills to a protective tariff. Principal Aims of Bill. Promotion of orderly marketing of certain basic agricultural commoditicy and control and disposition of crop surpluses to prevent price fluctuations are, in a broad way, the principal aims of the McNary-Haughen bill. The bill creates a Federal farm board composed of the Secretary of Agri- Iture, ex officio, and a member from ontinued on Page 2, Column 4. (C Track Coach Gives Teacups to “Frats” Who Refused to Run By the Associated Press. LINCOLN, Neb., February 10.— “Loving cups” in the form of dainty teacups With saucers, were awarded by Henry F. Schultz, Uni versity of Nebraska track coach, to each of the eighteen fraternities that failed to enter the recent annual interfraternity track meet Tare: ; The “loving cup: to the non-athleti their dinner hour. note, written by: tied on each cup: “Herewith please accept trophy won by your prowess in the recent interfraternity indoor track meet.” * were delivered Greeks during The following the coach, was .. . UNINFORMED ON RAL RUNORS Lacks Information of New York Central Seeking En- trance to Capital. The Interstate Commerce Commis- sion had no information today on the reported attempt of the New York Central Railroad to secure an entrance into Washington via the Western Maryland Rallroad and the Washing- ton, Baltimore and Annapolis electric line. Unusual activity in the stock of the Maryland and Pennsylvania Rail road yesterday on the Baltimore Stock Exchange and an application by the Western Maryland to the Interstate Commerce Commission to issue 100,000 shares of common stock in exchange for second preferred stock in the rijil- road at the option of holders initiated a rumor that the New York Central, which was ostensibly behind the mar- ket move, was seeking to absorb the two smaller roads to secure an en- trance into the Capital. Commigsion officials professed to know nothing of the move in advance of a formal dec laration of intent on the part of any of the rallroads involved and would say nothing as to the prospect of the Western Maryland transfer. In other quarters the Pennsylvania Railroad was beileved to be behind the move to acquire the Western Maryland and the Washington, Balti- more and Annapolis, but there was no evidence of a far-reaching move. Moderate activity in the stock of the Washington, Baltimore and An napolis over the last few weeks, ap- preciated considerably in the last two or three days, has been connected with the Western Maryland. The two roads have a physicdl connection at Westport, Md., from which point the electric line takes over considerable coal tonnage from the Western Mary- Jand for Baltimore and Washington. The activity in stock of the electric line has centered in Baltimore. There has been little activity in the stock on the local exchange. Purchase of 35 per cent of the stock, or a controlling interest, in the West- ern Maryland was announced early thix week by the Baltimore and Ohio, and it was learned yesterday that the latter roas in acquiring control was acting frr the New York Central. The Washington, Baltimore and Annapolis, operating between Wash- ington, Baltimore and Annapolis, has trackage only to the District lin From the District line into downtown Washington it uses the tracks of the Washington Railway and Electric Co. under lease. By the Associated Press. { ORLANDO, Fla., February 10.—The story of a duel at 50 yards with golf lubs and balls came out of Howey-in- ;.‘h‘:-hllls near here, today. E. W. Willson of St. Louis and T. V. McQuain of Syracuse, N. Y., dis- agreed as to the number of strokes each took in negotiating the Dubs- dread course. They had words, then an argument and finally a fight. It was agreed that each was to have one driver, one iron and two dozen balls. At fifty paces tees were care- tionists, prior to 1917. They were M. Arist, former director of the Riga central prison; Loman, his assistant, and Kroomin, the hx\n(rn. e _of the prgminent clubs. ater they were greeted by the mayor and were guests at a reception at one fully prepared. At the drop of a hat firing started. Several shots were high and wide and then one duelist knocked his luhi(‘nln down with a 3 Angry Golfers in Duél With Balls Score |Two Hits at 50 Yards Before Law Steps In line shot to the shin. He couldn't keep his eye on the ball, however, and before he could get the range hi opponent was up at him with an iron. He evened honors in three shots by :;z\dlns a fast one to the other's 8. Passersby, attracted by what at first appeared to be a spirited practice session, became alarmed. Constable E. C, Scott was called. He arrived Jjust as the iron shots began to whistle. “Fore!” shouted the constable. The duelists paused, one with a limping stance, and the other bowed as if for a putt. Scott approached the couple, pistol at the ready, and seized t weapons. An amicable settle- ment was effected. i | CONGRESS FAVORS NAVAL REDUCTION President’s Appeal to Powers Strikes Responsive Chord in Senate and House. | | President Coolidge's appeal to the foreign powers for an agreement on! further limitation of naval arma-| ment, announced to Congress today in a special message, struck a re- sponsive chord among the members of the Senate and the House. Favorable comment followed the reading of the message. The Presi- dent, in his memorandum: to the foreign powers, declared specifically for the §-5-3 ratio in cruisers and auxiliary craft for the United States, Great Britain and Japan. This is the same ratio that established for capital ships and afrcraft carriers at the Washington conference. Some Skepticism Shown. The President’s declaration was par- ticularly pleasing to members of Con- gress who believe in keeping up th: naval strength of the United States to that of any other power. While | hope 'was expressed generally that the appeal of the President would be attended with success, there was some skepticism. On the other hand, there was a feeling that the United States Gov- ernment might already have sounded out the maritime powers through dip- lomatic channels on the President’s propesal for a separate naval limita- tion agreement, provided a general agreement cannot be obtained at Geneva. If some of the powers al- ready have assented to the proposal and the principles of the 5—5—3 ratio, then the prospects of success, it was said, would be much brighter. The President, it was pointed out, leaves the ratio of the naval strength of France and Italy to the other pow- ers to be still further discussed at Geneva. The ratio established for them in capital ships at the Washing- ton conference was 1.67. Such a ratio might not be satisfactory to them in the matter of cruisers, sub- marines and other auxillary craft. See Blow to New Cruisers. iere and there an opinion was voiced that the President’s message might be a blow to the proposed ap- propriation for three new scout crujs- ers, placed in the Navy bill by the Senate. Supporters of the three- cruiser appropriation, however, were quick to point out that if the United States should build the three new cruisers it would still be far below the 5-5-3 ratio in cruiser strength with Great Britain and Japan. The secret of the President’s mes- sage was well kept. Nothing definite was known regarding its contents un- til it was read in the Senate. Senator Borah of Idaho, chairman of the foreign relations committee, made the following comment on the message. “I am thoroughly in sympathy with what the President would accomplish.” Senator Borah several years ago sponsored the first proposal for a naval limitation conference which was followed ultimately by the Washing- on conference called by Presl Harding. > e Hale Approves Plan; Senator Hale of Maine, chairman of the naval affairs committee, said: “I have always been in favor of ex- tending the provisions of the Wash- ington treaty to other types of ships than capital ships and carriers. The President’s proposal is in line with this policy and has nothing to do with the present.building program of the Navy, which, if carried out, could not ralse our strength to any limitation level which by any possibility could be adopted by such a conference. On the contrary, the building of new cruisers now contemplated would im- prove the condition of the United States at such a conference.” Senator Moses of New Hampshire took much the same view as Senator Hale. He said that he did not see how the proposed conference - on naval limitations could in any way affect the blllldln:aot the three cruis- ers proposed in the Navy bill since it would require not only ti s, lsn.xnt.':.llny 0!:. s to l':nr( the United up cru strength of Great Britain and Japan. Senator Reed of Missouri, Democra- tic member of the foreign relations committee, expressed the opinion that the message of the President was aimed at the three cruiser appropria- tion as included in the Navy bill by the Senate. The Missouri Senator said that he was not averse to principal of naval limitation provides the oth val vailed other FURTHER NAVAL CUTS URGED BY PRESIDENT IN APPEAL TO POWERS \Asks England, F;'ancé; Italy and Japan to Extend Limitation of U. S. Parley to Small Ships. SPECIAL MESSAGE TO CONGRESS ANNOUNCES COOLIDGE’S ACTION Negotiation of Treaties Without Delay uggested at Geneva—5-5-3 Ratio Is Called By the Associated Press Once more the United States atisfactory. has undertaken to lead the world toward scaling down of naval armaments. In a note to Great Britain, F rance, Italy and Japan President Coolidge has suggested that treaties to that end be negotiated without delay at the Geneva conference. The proposal would extend downward to smaller warships the limitations imposed at the Washington conference on first-class naval craft. The same proposal was made by the United States at the Washington conference, but failed of acceptance. In a special message to Congress announcing what he had done, Mr. Coolidge declared that despite the principles laid down at the conference here in 1921 “certain powers” have laid down far-reaching naval building programs, suggesting the shadow of another world-wide race among at sea. He suggested also that the Geneva discussions, initiated by the League of Natlons, are threatened with dead- lock if the powers proceed along their present lines of negotiations. Sees No Land-Air Threat. So far as land and air armaments are concerned the President evi- denced a willingness to let foreign powers work out an agreement of their own. The land and air forces of the United States, he said, are at a minimum and “constitute a threat to no one.” The message fell upon Congress without warning, in the midst of a controversy over the construction of three new cruisers. Overriding the President's recommendations, the Sen- ate has voted to authorize this con- struction, and the House, although it once has rejected the proposal, ap- pears somewhat disposed to accept the Senate viewpoint in conference. Some of the most influential leaders of the President’s own party, includ- ing Speaker Longworth, have thrown their support behind the bullding plan. Should Mr. Coolidge's suggestion be accepted by the potvers, and treaties negotiated to carry It into effect, cruisers would be one of the classes of ships directly affected by any limitation agreed upon. Effect Not Yet Apparent. Sent to the Capitol by messenger, the special message was read in Sen- ate and House early in today’s session, but the possible effect on the three- cruiser plan was not immediately ap- parent. Great secrecy had been observed in preparation and transmission of the American note to the powers. Ap- parently only a very small handful of Senators or Representatives had any inkling of the move until the message reached the Capitol, and Some mem- bers of the cabinet expressed surprise when they heard of it. Arrangements had been made, how- ever, for publication of the note through the American embassies abroad simultaneous with delivery of the President’s message to Congress. The text of the note to the powers was included in the message to Con- gress. It said in part: “Although hesitating at this time to put forward rigid proposals as regards the ratios of naval strength to be maintained by the different powers, the American Government for its part is disposed to accept, in regard to those classes of vessels not cov- ered by the Washington treaty, an extension of the 5-5-3 ratio as re- gards the United States, Grest Britain and Japan, and to leave to discussion at Geneva the ratios of France and Italy, taking into full account their speclal conditions and requirements in regard to types of vessels in question. Capital Ship Ratio Cited. “Ratios for capital ships and air- craft carriers were established by that treaty, which would not be affected in any way by the agreement cover- ing_other classes of ships.” The American delegates at Geneva. would have “full powers to negotiate definitely regarding measures for further naval limitation, and if they are able to reach an agreement with the representatives of the other signa- torfes of the Washington treaty to conclude a convention _embodying such agreement, in tentative or final form as may be found practicable.” “The American Government,” the President_said, “and people are con- vinced that competitive armament constitutes one of the most dangerous contributing causes of international suspicion and .discord and are cal- culated eventually to lead to war.” Building Programs Mentioned. Despite the hope of the United States to complete the work of the ‘Washington treaty and extend limit- ing treaties to cover cruisers, destroy- ers and submarines, the message con- tinued, ‘“far-reaching building pro- grams have been laid down by certain powers, and there has appeared in our own country, as well as abroad, a sentiment urging naval construction on the ground that such construction is taking place elsewhere.” “Actually, I do not believe that com- petitive building of these classes of ships has beguu,” the President said. The President added, however, that in such sentiments as he had referred to “lies the germ of renewed naval competition.” Plans Sent to Four Nations. The text of the message follow: To the Congress of the United States: Pursuant to my instructions, the ibassadors at London, nations to outbuild one another Paris, Rome and Tokio will today pre- sent to the governments of Great Britain, France, Italy and Japan a memorandum suggesting that they empower their delegates at the forth- coming meeting of the Preparatory Commission for the Disarmament Con- ference at Geneva to negotiate and conclude at an early date an agree- ment further limiting naval arma« ment, supplementing the Washington treaty -on that subject, and covering the classes of vessels, not covered by that treaty. I transmit herewith, for the information of the Congress, a copy of this memorandum. I wish to inform the Congress of the considerations which have moved me to take this action. The support of all measures looking to the preservation of the peace of the world has been long established as a tummflm poliey ‘of this Govern. ment. ¢ American Government and le are convinced that competitive armaments constitute one of the most dangerous contributing causes of in- ternational suspicion and discord and are calculated eventually to lead to War. A recognition of this fact and a desire, as far as possible, to remove this danger led the American Govern. ment in 1921 to call the Washington A that i at time we were en; in a great building program w:l‘r‘t:dupon its completion, would have given us first place on the sea. We felt then, however, and feel now, that the policy we then advocated—that of deliberate self-denial and limitation of naval armament by the great naval pow- ers—promised the attainment of at least one guarantee of peace, an end worthy of mutual adjustment and concession. Other Countries in Accord. At the Washington conference we found the other nations animated with the same desire as ourselves to re- move naval competition from the list of possible causes of international discord. Unfortunately, however, it was not possible to reach agreement at Washington covering all classes of naval ships. The Washington treaty provided a specific tonnage limitation upon capital ships and aircraft car- riers, with certain restrictions as to size and maximum caliber of guns for other vessels. Every nation has been at complete liberty o build any num- ber of cruisers, destroyers, and sub- marines. Only size and armament of cruisers were limited. The signatories of the Washington treaty have ful filled their obligations faithfully and there can be no doubt that that treaty constitutes an outstanding success in its_operation. B4 koo bewn the Lope of A tic 2 G:wnmenz.fl‘-mny pr ed by the Congress since the Wi ington conference, that a fevorabdie opportunity might present ftselt to complete the work begun nere by the conclusion of further agreements cov- ering cruisers, destroyers, and sub- marines. The desirability of such an agreement has been apparent, since it was only to be expected that the spirit of competition, stifled as regards capital ships and aircraft carriers by the Washington treaty, would, sooner or later, show itself with regard to the other vessels not limited under the treaty. Actually, I do not believe that competitive building of these classes of ships has begun. Never- theless, far-reaching bullding pro- grams have been laid down by certain powers, and there has appeared in our own ntry, as well as abroad, a sentiment urging naval construction on the ground that such construction is taking place elsewhere. In such sentiments lies the germ of renewed naval competition. Early Action Urged. I am sure that all governments and all peoples would choose a system of naval limitation in preference to con- sciously reverting to competitive building. Therefore, in the hope of bringing about an opportunity for discussion among the principal naval powers to ascertain whether further limitation is practicable, I have sug- gested to them that negotiations on this subject should begin as soon as possible. The moment seems particularly op« portune to try to secure further limi- tation of armament in accordance with the expressed will of the Con- . The earnest desire 6f the na- tions of the world to relieve them- selves in as great a measure as pos- sible of the burden of armaments and to avoid the dangers of competition has been shown by the establishment of the preparatory comission for the disarmament conference, which met in Geneva last May, and which is con- tinuing its work with a view to pre- paring the agenda for a final general conference. For more