"DIPLOMATS ASTONISHED BY AMERICAN PROPOSAL"

SECRETARY HUGHES PRESENTS AMERICAN PROPOSAL FOR 10 YEAR NAVAL HOLIDAY

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On November 12, 1921, the United States proposed "a clear cut...program for cutting the British, Japanese and American navies to the bone and holding them there during a ten-year naval holiday."

The proposal was read by Secretary of State Charles Evans Hughes at the first meeting of the Conference on the Limitation of Armament held here in Washington.

Under the proposal, all new ship construction will cease and every battleship and battle cruiser now under construction will be scrapped.

W.O. McGeehan writes that the diplomats present at the conference were "astonished" by the proposal.

SOURCES

"Hughes Fires Audience With Vivid Powers," by W.O. McGeehan, The New York Tribune, November 13, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

"United States Proposes 10-Year Naval Holiday; Would Scrap 66 Capital Ships, 30 American," by Carter Field, The New York Tribune, November 13, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/

   

 

Washington Naval Conference

Nov 12 1921 - Feb 6 1922

Washington, D.C.

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress

 

"SENATOR KNOX ONLY NAME STILL IN DOUBT"

HARDING CHOOSING MEN FOR ARMS CONFERENCE WHO WILL ACCOMPLISH BEST RESULTS

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On August 14, 1921, it was learned that the American delegation to the World Arms Limitation Conference* to be held this November will include...

Charles Evans Hughes, chairman, Senator Henry Cabot Lodge (R-Massachusetts), Senator Oscar W. Underwood (D-Alabama), former Senator George E. Sutherland (R-Utah) and Senator Philander C. Knox (R-Pennsylvania).

Senator Knox, however, is the only name on the list that "is still in doubt."

President Warren G. Harding, according to Carter Field, is intent on choosing men for the conference who will "accomplish the best results."

Washington Naval Conference (Nov 12 1921 - Feb 6 1922) held in Washington, D.C. was attended by representatives from 9 nations & resulted in 3 major treaties which preserved peace during the 1920s.

JFK+50 NOTE

As it turned out, not only was Senator Knox ultimately excluded from the American delegation, but also former Senator Sutherland.  The fourth member of the delegation was Elihu Root. 

Elihu Root served as Secretary of War (1899-1904), Secretary of State (1905-1909) & US Senator (R-New York, 1909-1915).

SOURCE

"Lodge Sure to Be Named to Arms Conference," by Carter Field, The New York Tribune, August 15, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

 

 

 Washington Naval Conference

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress Image 

"PROMOTERS FAVOR COUNTER-REVOLUTIONARIES?"

RUSSIANS ANGRY AT NOT BEING INVITED TO PACIFIC CONFERENCE

Stockholm (JFK+50) On July 21, 1921, American Charge d 'Affaires Sheldon L. Crosby received "a long note" from Mikhajlovitch Kergentseff, chief of the Russian delegation to Sweden, "protesting (President Warren G. Harding's) failure to invite Russia to the Pacific conference* in Washington."

The note argued that the Soviet Union "is a sovereign power" possessing territories along the Pacific and that other powers were not authorized to represent her interests.

The note further stated that "the promoters" of the Pacific conference favor the Russian counter-revolutionaries.

*Between 1921 & 1922, the world's largest naval powers met in Washington, D.C. for a conference to discuss naval disarmament and ways to relieve growing tensions in East Asia.   It was known as the Washington Naval Conference.

SOURCES

"Current Events, Foreign," The Literary Digest, Volume 70, July 1921-September 1921, Funk and Wagnalls Company, New York, www.books.google.com/

"Russia Indignant at Her Failure to be Invited to Arms Conference," The New York Tribune, July 22, 1921, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/ 

   

 

Washington Naval Conference

Nov 12 1921 - Feb 6 1922

Harris & Ewing Photo

Library of Congress