Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-06-19
Ambassador Dawes, salutatory.


Gen. Dawes sprang no surprises at
the Pilgrims dinner in London last
night when he celebrated his debut in
that role additionally assigned to Aneri-
can Ambassadors to Great Britain, viz,
that of a speechmaker. Yet as key
note address on Anglo-American rela-
lions IL, general, and naval questions in
particular, his remarks were important
and impressive.
In essence they went no farther than
the Presidents Arlington address on
Memorial day. Mr.. Hoover told OF the
"yardstick Of RELATIVELY" which the
american program" for further naval
limitation would apply, and Gen. Dawes
dweit In general terms with the same
theme. He emphasized the United
states belief that the underlying prin-
ciple for distributing naval strength
eauitably Is an attAif1able plan, granted
that there are Statesmen" with willing
ness to find the way.
Unouestionably the outstanding note
in Ambassador Dawes London speech is
this underlined reference to states
men" as the arbiters of the naval differ
ences between John Bull and Uncle
Sam. He is pointedness itself on that
score. He differentiates sharply between
thu task of the naval experts" and the
prerogative Of craftsmanship in the
ard,,o,,s nroblem of an Anglo American
understanding.
IF the naval experts rise to proper
sense of their responsibility" Gen.
Dawes saws in words that we're obviously
chosen with care, 1.-THE use BY states
men of their yardstick will not be one
which will invite peril from those ex-
treme pacifsts and extreme nnilitarists
who form the lunatie fringe"
In thus interpreting the Hoover naval
limitation policy to our British friends
Gen. Dawes means that America favors
rational strength at sea, i.e., naval es-
Punishment that shall not, on the one
hand, be whitfield down to the danger
o,,slv slender dimensions advocated by
chicken hearted prevention OF war"
Uro,ps. or, on the other hand, be ex-
handed to that swollen and provocative
extent demanded by our big Navy
zealots in moments Of exuberant jingo-
Ism.
ambassador Dawes rightly called for
an "early" adjustment of naval differ
ences with Britain as matter OF out
standing Importance" He did not sug-
Sest any intention upon the part OF the
Hoover administration to convene an
international conference to deal with
limitation. Gen. Dawes is apparently
under directions from washington to
let the League of Nations preliminary
commission on disarmament pursue It's
oniet. exhaustive study Of the intricate
technical problems involved. In that
inquiry the United States is actively
participating.
The Dawes mission to the Court OF
at. James opens auspiciously. 1t be-
gins with the laying of practical Ameri-
can cards on the table. 1t is fortuitous
circumstance that Britain's Practically
minded new premier, Mr.. Ramsay Mac
Donald, is ready to take hand In the
rame-not as a rival player, but as a
partner, and bent upon capturing the
same stakes.
No higher stakes can be played for oS
statesmen. Both Ambassador Dawes
and Premier Macdonald made II plain
in their respective utterances yesterday
that with Anglo American naval discord
abolished the foundations of world peace
will be laid.