Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-30
Plea for Peace and Ultimate
Disarmament Keynote of
Memorial Speech.
SEES TREATY AS MEANS
TO BIND FAITH WITH DEAD
Vast Crowd Hears Hoover at Ar
lngton-Veterans Present in
Large Numbers.
BY !. RUSSELL YOUNG.

Il to fulfill its high purpose and If II
people Of the nations that signed that
pact, there must be AT once an abandon
nnent Of the aggressive Use Of arms by
every signatory nation. as we'll As sim
cere declaration on their part that arm
sment hereafter shall be used only for
defense. Such is the opinion expressed
by President Hoover in his Memorial
cay address at Arlington National Gem
etery today.
Making it clear that he does not share
the views of those whom he described
as pessinistS and whom he said have
seen fit to look upon the Kellogg peace
treaty as trick of statesmen. President
Hoover emphatically declared that in
view of the fact that fighting ships are
still being built. he believes the time has
come when the world must know wf1eth-
er the Kellogg pact is real.
Must Quit Preparations.
He contended that if this covenant
be genuine proof that the world has re-
nounced war as an instrument OF ma
tional policy, it means at once an
abandonment of war-like preparations.
Mr. Hoover made it evident he thinks
that very little may be expected in the
aspirations of world peace until the
great powers stop bolstering their naval
armaments and effect genuine reduc-
ton. He argued that fear and suSpi-
cion, which he considers two of the
principal contributing causes of war
will never Slacken or disappear unless
the tide is turned definitely toward
actual reduction.
He doubted if any agreement can be
reached by this Nation and other world
powers in the matter of reducing naval
armament until these nations find a
rational yardstick with which to make
reasonable comparisons of their naval
units with the United States. and thus
maintain an agreed relatively. He re-
gretted that the world so far has failed
TO find such yardstick, but he eX-
pressed hope for the future, stating that
TO say that such a measure cannot be
found would be counseling despair.
President Hoover contended that the
only interest the United States has in
disarmament is in the matter of re-
duction in its naval forces. He men,
toned the efforts undertaken by his
administration to approach the vital
problem of naval disarmament with the
other powers by offering new program.
Services Impressive.
These significant utterances on the
part Of the President were delivered
from the rostrunn of the amphitheater
at Arlington National Cemetery where
impressive services under auspices of
the Grand Army of the Republic and
other veteran organizations were held
throughout the day. The amphitheater
was crowded with attentive listeners as
the President spoke, and the green
slopes beyond the enclosure we're
thronged with persons.
The Presidents remarks were not
confined, however, to this audience. A
Nationalwide radio hookup carried his
plea for peace and disarmament to mil
Lions OF homes throughout the land.
Mr.. Hoover's address, while brief, had
been prepared with the greatest pains
and was delivered with much feeling
It was plain to be seen he considered
this occasion an ideal one for the ex-
preston OF his candid opinions upon
the subjects of peace and disarmament.
In the vast audience before him he
could look down upon the uniforms
of veterans of four wars, and on the
surrounding slopes and hills he could
see the thousands of reminders of the
fruits of war in the form of marked
graves Of those who had fought for
the perpetuation of this Republic
II was an impressive setting and y
most fitting occasion, according to his
own views, for the voicing by the Presi-
dent Of the United States of the
aspirations of the American people.
The text of President Hoover's ad-
dress follows:
Fellow countrymen:
Over the years since the Civil War
the Grand Army of the Republic has
conducted this sacred ceremony in me-
moriam of those who died in service of
their country. The ranks of their liv-
ing comrades have been steadily thinned
with time. But other wars have reaped
their harvest of sacrifice, and these
dead, too, lie buried here. Their living
comrades now join in conduct of this
memorial, that it may be carried for
ward when the noble men who today
represent the last of the Grand Army
shall have joined those already in the
great beyond.
Pledges Renewed Efforts.
This sacred occasion has impelled our
Presidents to express their aspirations
In furtherance of peace. No more ap-
propriate tribute can be paid TO our
heroic dead than to stand in the pres
ence of their resting places and pledge
renewed effort that these sacrifices shall
not be claimed again.
Today. as never before in peace, new
hfe-destroylng instrumentalities and
new systems of warfare are being added
to those that even so recently spread
death and desolation over the whole
continent of Europe. Despite those les
sons, every government continues to
increase and perfect its armament
And while this process is being made
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