Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-11
A New Peace Move.

Reaction in Europe TO President
Coolidge's proposal for immediate re-
duction of naval ornaments is some
what mixed, but the European powers
win have difficulty in escaping the
fact that the program Mr.. Coolidge
suggests Is supported by the logic OF
the situation. The preparatory COM
mission has been sitting at Geneva
for half year trying to work out g.
basis for the simultaneous considera'
ton of a reduction in sea. land and
air ornaments. and today is in dead.
lock which gives no promise of being
broken. In such circumstances, be.
lieving that bird in the hand is
worth three in the bush, the President
proposes that the powers clothe their
members of the preparatory commits
sion with authority to negotiate
treaty for the further limitation Of
naval ornaments, leaving the matter
of land and air ornaments to be taken
up at later date.
ia llb2 AilNAtOA " AAA~ PSN~%S
the President restates the American
view that land and air ornaments can
best be dealt with by regional agree
ments, whereas naval ratios are of
universal application. This is a proper
attitude, particularly in view Of the
fact that this country has nothing to
offer in the way of a reduction in land
ornaments that would be of interest
to any European or Oriental power.
The same Is true, though perhaps to
less degree, of ornaments in the air,
whereas American naval armament
may be regarded as a matter of con-
Germ by any nation in the world.
The President makes the tentative
proposal that in the matter of cruisers.
submarines and other secondary ships
the United States is willing to adhere
to the 5-5--3 ratio as to this country,
Great Britain and Japan, leaving the
ratios for France and Italy and such
other powers as might enter the con-
ference to be determined in the light
OF their peculiar circumstances.
Should Great Britain and Japan agree
to this 1t would remove one of the
obstacles which stood in the way at
the Washington conference of extend
ing Limitation beyond capital ships
and airplane carriers.
Right here, it would seem, the Presi-
dent has put up to the governments at
London and Toxic responsibility for
either retarding or advancing pro.
gram to which all the world subscribes
in theory. France and Italy undoubted-
ly would agree to limitation of these
secondary vessels If accorded ratios
compatible with what they regarded as
their vital national interests. In in
dicating the willingness of this Gov.
eminent to recognize the French and
Italian claims in this respect, the
President has re-established that
moral leadership" the alleged loss of
which has been causing numerous
good people such great concern.
The suggestion is advanced that the
President timed submitting to Con-
gress his memorandum to the powers
with a view to influencing decision as
to appropriating money for the con-
struction of three additional cruisers,
but analysis does not warrant belief
that he had any such thing in mind.
Steps preliminary to the formal pro-
posai must have been under way for
many weeks, and the time for making
ii had to be determined at Geneva
rather than on Capitol Hill. Besides.
the President knows. of course, and
knows that Congress knows. that to
vote money for additional cruisers
would not place the United States at
any disadvantage in. negotiating for
limitations. Should limitation be
agreed upon it would be necessary
only for the President TO withhold the
expenditure. and the fact that he had
the money to spend would tend to
strengthen. rather than weaken, his
hand in the negotiations.
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