Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-11
DAWES RATED AID
TO NAVAL ACCORD
As Envoy to Britain He
Would Promote Under
standing, Observers Feel.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.

There's going to be Dawes plan"
for composing Anglo-American naval
differences, in the opinion Of the men
in Washington who know the views Of
the newly designated Hoover Ambassa-
dor to Great Britain. Gen. Dawes holds
that the hidebound attitude Of naval ex-
perts, American and British alike, was
mainly responsible for the failure of the
two countries to agree on mutually sat
isfactory ratios of strength at sea.
The future envoy of the United States
at the court of st. James believes that
the same spirit of accommodation and
common sense which resulted In the
adoption of the Dawes plan for German
reparationS can be applied to the
Anglo American naval problem. Con-
versely, Gen. Dawes is credited with the
conviction that as long as "admirals,
either in Washington or London, are
permitted to dominate the discussion, =
viii end, as the Coolidge conference" In
Geneva ended in 1927, in complete
failure.
Views Given in 1927.
Gen. Dawes mind on the subject was
spoken with characteristic candor on
August z, 1927, when he delivered an
address at Buffalo on the occasion OF
the dedication of the international
Peace Bridge linking Canada and the
United States. other speeches were de.
livered by Premier Stanley Baldwin OF
Great Britain, Premier Mackenzie King
of Canada, the Prince Of Wales and
Frank B. Kellogg, then American Sec
rotary of State.
But it was Dawes observations about
the abortive Geneva cruiser conference,
held less than two months previously,
that became the outstanding utterance.
The Vice President attacked the naval
experts hammer and tongS. In Dartlcu-
lar ne assailed the lack Of preparation
which had been made by both the
American and British governments In
advance of the conferences charge
which was promptly and bitterly refut-
ed. as far as the United States was
concerned, bye the State Department.
Although he could hardly have mag
ined in August, 1927, that he would
relatively soon be called upon to func-
ton as American Ambassador in Lon
don. Dawes Buffalo bridge speech sup
plies an accurate indication OF his feel
ings on the paramount Anglo American
issue. He disclosed himself as a firm
believer In "English-speaking amity,"
and said he was not discouraged by a
temporary setback like the Geneva fiasco.
Sees Steady Progress.
"There should not be down-hearted-
ness over the slow progress Of the naval
discussion" Gen. Dawes said, land the
adjournment of the Geneva conference
without a solution. That meeting was
but an incident in the steady, onward
march Of the principle agreed upon by
the great naval powers at the Washing
on conference, in accordance with which
the two great English-speaking peoples
pledged themselves to equality In naval
strength"
Upon the subject of general Anglo
American relations, Gen. Dawes was no
less optimistic. AT times" he conttn-
ued, temporary misunderstanding may
annoy us, but they are only eddleS In
the great current of fixed public opinion.
Differences Of opinion in small matters
will always be exploited by the few and
at times the press may be filled with
foreboding. But when any differences
among ourselves. assume real import
ance In the minds Of the English-speak-
ing peoples, there will come from their
heart and their conscience-inarticulate
upon trivial things universal cry Tor
peaceful and reasonable adjustment"
Refers 70 Conference.
As to what he regarded the specific
causes Of disagreement over naval
strength at Geneva, Dawes said in
Buffalo:
perhaps before this conference was
held there was not the preliminary
careful appraisement by each conferee
of the interests of the other. Perhaps
too exclusive concentration by each
conferee upon the interests OF his own
nation resulted in a predetermined ulti-
matum before q comparison OF views.
Perhaps the public announcement OF
respective programs early In the confer
ence producted fears of domestic public
repercussion II they were reasonably
modified, as would be necessary to ef-
feet an agreement.
"If In their respective programs un-
der the principle of equality the United
States requires heavy cruisers which
Great Britain does not need, and Great
Britain requires light cruisers which
the United States does not need, there
Is no excuse for inaugurating COM
petition in ships which neither of them
needs"
Gen. Dawes declared it to be "un-
thinkable that Great Britain and the
United States, similarly pledged to the
principle of equality at sea, will again
place upon their peoples the burden of
competition In naval building because
temporarily their experts disagree in
their practical Interpretation OF that
Copyright, 1927