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ZEEB ROAD, ANN ARBOR, Ml 48106 18 BEDFORD ROW, LONDON WC1 R 4EJ, ENGLAND 8022364 WEST, MICHAEL ALLEN LAYING THE LEGISLATIVE FOUNDATION: THE HOUSE NAVAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREATY NAVY, 1926-1934 The Ohio State University PH.D. 1980 University Microfilms i n te r n St ionel 300 N. Zeeb Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48106 18 Bedford Row, London WCIR 4EJ, England PLEASE NOTE: In all cases this material has been filmed in the best possible way from the available copy. Problems encountered with this document have been identified here with a check mark . 1. Glossy photographs 2. Colored illustrations 3. Photographs with dark background '4. Illustrations are poor copy ___ 5. °rint shows through as there is text on both sides of page 6. Indistinct, broken or small print on several pages 1/ throughout 7. Tightly bound copy with print lost in spine 8, Computer printout pages with indistinct print 9. Page(s) _____ lacking when material received, and not available from school or author ________ 10. Page(s) ________seem to be missing in numbering only as text follows ________ 11. Poor carbon copy ________ 12. Not original copy, several pages with blurred type 13. Appendix pages are poor copy ________ 14. Original copy with light type ________ 15. Curling and wrinkled pages ________ 16. Other Université MjcraTiims International 300 \ : = = = 30, ANN A.R30P Ml JS 106'3131 761-4700 LAYING THE LEGISLATIVE FOUNDATION: THE HOUSE NAVAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TREATY NAVY, 1926-1934 DISSERTATION Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements of the Degree Doctor of Philosophy in the Graduate School of The Ohio State University By Michael A. West, B.A., M.A. ***** The Ohio State University 1980 Reading Committee; Approved by Dr. Harry L. Coles Y Dr. Allan R. Millett Aëviser Dr. Gary Reichard Department of History TO MY WIFE ELIZABETH My inspiration and closest confidant, whose encouragement and assistance made this task easier and more meaningful. 11 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Patience is a virtue I have come to appreciate more fully as a result of this endeavor. Patience on the part of my adviser, Professor Harry L. Coles, who must have entertained doubts that the seeds he planted and assidu­ ously cultivated would ever bear fruit. Patience by my wife Elizabeth who has been willing to share her life with a preoccupied scholar and Carl Vinson for the past eight years. And finally, patience on the part of the members and staff of the House Armed Services Committee for enduring the scrutiny and queries from one attempting to better understand the subtleties of committee work and the legis­ lative process. This dissertation also materially benefitted frbm the assistance of the Hon. Carl Vinson, the late Hon. F. Edward Hebert, Hon. O.C. Fisher, Hon. Claude Pepper, Mr, Russell Blandford, the late Mr. Phillip Kelleher, and Mr. James A, Deakins. By graciously agreeing to be interviewed, they contributed valuable insights that could only be gained from those so intimately involved in the congressional process while preventing errors in fact and interpretation iii that might have otherwise occurred. In the last analysis, the success of any study relying heavily on primary sources is directly proportional to the quality and degree of assistance provided by research per­ sonnel at the archives and depositories where the relevant holdings are collected. The author has been very fortunate in this regard and is deeply indebted to those individuals who have so ably guided him through the maze of records and papers relating to interwar naval policy and the activities of the House Naval Affairs Committee in the 1930's, Deserv­ ing special mention is Dr. Gibson B. Smith of the National Archives for his prompt and unfailing efforts to meet seemingly insatiable demands for Navy Department records. Also assisting above and beyond the call was Mr, Walter B. Greenwood, former Director of the Navy Department Library at the Washington Navy Yard. Always willing to explore innovative approaches to research problems, Mr. Greenwood demonstrated that he placed service above procedure— a rare quality in a Government employee. Special thanks are also in order to Dr. Raymond E. Lewis and his crew at the Library of the U.S. House of Representatives for expert and timely assistance. Finally, I would like to express my appreciation to the staffs of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Library, Hyde Park, New York; the Loan and Manuscript Divisions of the iv Library of Congress, the Mary Vinson Memorial Library, Milledgeville, Georgia; the U.S. Senate Library; and the Navy Operational Archives at the Washington Navy Yard. The lonely task of undertaking and completing a project of this kind was measurably facilitated by the encouragement and counsel of Mr. LeRoy J. Spence, a colleague wise in the ways of institutional relationships stemming from a long and distinguished career that has taken him from the corridors of the Pentagon to the halls of Capitol Hill, Impetus also came via the gentle prodding by the committee’s resident intellectual, Mr, John J, Ford, who doubles as Staff Director. I would be seriously remiss if I did not express my gratitude to Mrs. Oneta Stockstill, former Executive Secretary of the committee, who gave me the opportunity to progress beyond book learning to an appreciation of the essence of the legislative process. In addition, I benefitted greatly from being able to avail myself of the conscious and unwitting collaboration of my esteemed office-mate, Mr. Justus P. White, Jr., a consummate power broker, legislative technician, and superbly decent individual rolled into one. I would also like to thank two gracious ladies— my mother, Mrs, Catherine West, for her impulsive purchase of Childcraft books which fostered my aca­ demic pursuits; and my mother-in-law Mrs, Jean Salzgaber, for V her encouragement and timely financial assistance that was largely responsible for getting this venture beyond the early research stage. Certainly this dissertation could not have been done as expeditiously or as well without the talents of my secretary, Ms. Judith C. Bond, who mixed patience, perserverence, good humor and acquisitiveness in overcoming deadlines and other assorted and recurring frustrations. From the foregoing, it is clear that many have contributed to whatever positive virtues this study might possess. I alone, however, am responsible for its short­ comings which would certainly have been far more serious and extensive without the benefit of such assistance. VI VITA July 22, 1946, Born-San Fransisco, Ca. 1964-1966...., San Joaquin Delta College, Stockton, Ca. 1966-1970____ San Jose State University, San Jose, Ca., B.A. 1970 1970-1972____ The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, M.A. 1972 1974-1976.___ Executive Secretary, House Armed Services Committee 1976-1980,___ Research Assistant, House Armed Services Committee PUBLICATIONS "The Role of Congress in the Defense Budget Process-A Positive View." Naval War College Review, Vol. XXXII, No. 3, May-June 1979, pp. 88-95. ". .But In Ourselves." Resource Management Journal, Summer, 1980. FIELDS OF STUDY Major Field: Military History Civil War and Reconstruction. Professor Merton Dillon U.S. Diplomatic History. Professor Alfred Eckes Japanese History. Professor James Bartholomew V I 1 TABLE OF CONTENTS Page ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS............................. iii VITA............ vîi LIST OF TABLES..................... ix INTRODUCTION. ................................ 1 Chapter I. "THE DECADENCE OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY" ................................ 7 II. THE GENTLEMAN FROM GEORGIA, . , . , 57 III. THE INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXT .......... 84 IV. 1932 - BUILDING A RECORD............ 166 V. BUILDING A CONSENSUS................. 27 3 VI. BUILDING A TREATY NAVY.............. 348 VII. LEGACIES.............................. 453 APPENDIXES : Major Naval Authorization Measures, 1916-1934 ............. 498 BIBLIOGRAPHY......................... .. , 547 Vl l l LIST OF TABLES Table Page 1. Treaty (junder the terms of the Washington and London Treaties the various categories are allowed). 26 2. Underage ships built and building as of the London Conference of 1930......................................