Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-07
MCDONALD PLEDGES
ANGL0-U. S. PARITY
Britain to Ask France, Italy
and Japan to Join in
Naval Farley.
Continued From First Page.)


invitation, the expectation here is, will
be handed to the American Ambassador
in London, Gen. Charles g. Dawes, to
be transmitted to the State Department
here. -...
President Hoover, acting for the
United States, promptly will accept the
invitation. The conference Is to be held
In London, probably the latter part of
January. The Japanese already have
indicated their willingness to take part
in the projected naval conference. In
dications have grown stronger that both
France and italy will send acceptances
also.
The President and Mr. Macdonald
doubtless would have reached an accord
and the invitations to the naval con-
ference would have gone forth had they
remained in Washington, and amid
more formal surrounding. But confer
ences between the men took on a
more intimate touch in the camp in
the Virginia hills. For hours yesterday,
and sat on a fallen oak tree on the
banks of the Rapidan River. facing a
little cascade in the streams course
There they smoked the pipe Of peace"
and discussed international affairs
Their conversations were begun on the
trip down to the camp. continued be-
fore log fire In the Presidents cot
tage Saturday night, and in their Sum
day walks through the camp and be-
yond The intimate details of these con-
versations never will be known. Only
the trees stood guard and the rushing
waters of the river helped to drown the
sound of their voices as they talked OF
plans for peace, not alone between the
two English speaking nations, but OF
peace for the whole world.
Dinner to BE Held Tonight.
The President and Mr.. Macdonald
left the Rapidan camp about 7:l5
O'Clock this morning to drive back to
the Capital. They arrived at the White
House at 1925. The prime minister
and his daughter continue to be the
house guests of President and Mrs.
Hoover today. Tonight. they will be
the guests of honor at the largest din
ner which the President and Mrs.
Hoover have given since they have
been in the White House. Ninety
guests will be present. among them the
leading officials Of this Government
Secretary of State; Frank w. Kellogg.
another former Secretary OF State. and
John w. Davis, at one time American
Ambassador at the Court Of st. James.
Mr.. Macdonald went to the Capitol
accompanied by the British Ambassador
and Walter Newton, one of the secre-
taries to the President.
Speaker Longworth was not In the
city, and for that reason Mr.. Mac
donald was unable to call upon him.
Mr.. LOngworth Is not expected to re-
turn to Washington for another two
weeks, it was said at his Office.
The ceremonial dinner at the White
House tonight will remain the outstand-
ing social function of the prime min
listers visit. At the same time. 1t will
stand as a new chapter in the Capitals
social history.
Howard and Curtis Yield.
The dinner. of course. was arranged
through the REIMBURSEMENT of his right
of precedence by Vice President Curtis
was 1t possible to give him the privi-
lcge of escorting Mrs. Hoover and sit
ting at her right. Sir Esme Howard,
the British Ambassador. had to relin-
quish similar rights as the personal
representative of his King to bring
about that objective.
Mrs. Dolly Curtis Gam, sister and
Official hostess of the Vice President,
likewise took o lower place at the table
British matron, to sit at the
right of the President. Acceptance Of
her withdrawal was regarded by her
friends as establishing her rank as that
of Vice Presidents wife. Miss Ishbel
Macdonald, daughter and ofiicial hostess
of the prime minister, came to Wash
ington without social rank.
Auxiliary Craft Limit Sought.
At the naval conference in London, an
effort will be made to bring about
treaty limiting the strength of the five
nations in socalled auxiliary naval
craft. At the Washington conference
in 1922, an agreement was reached re-
sarding battleshipS and aircraft carriers.
In the coming conference, cruisers. sub
and destroyers and all other
craft will be considered.
In Geneva two years ago, the British
and the American delegations were UNI
able to reach an agreement over cruiser
strength and the question of naval
parity between the two nations. While
some details remain still to be ironed
out. the present governments, through
their heads, have been able to flnd q
ground on which they could
stand in these matters.
At the coming conference the United
States will propose. according to pres
ent plans. an extension of the holiday
in the construction Of capital ships
from 1881, when there was to be fur
ther conferences on the matter. until
1886, the period Of the Washington
treaty. 1t has been suggested In some
quarters that 1t may be possible by that
time to bring about the elimination of
the battleships. the most costly Of all
vessels and regarded particularly as
offensive naval craft.
ga
The recent negotiations between this
Nation and Great Britain. carried on
in personal conversations between
Prime Minister Macdonald and AM
Dawes in London: dealt al