Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-31
The President and Parity.

President Hoover has written q letter
to Paul v. McNutt, national COM
rnander of the American Legion, which
is designed to relieve the anxieties Of
those who fear that American naval
preparedness Is endangered by pending
negotiations with Great Britain. In
bringing Premier Macdonald to &C
knowledge the United States interpre-
tation of parity at sea, the President
contends that "a forward step Of the
first Importance" has been accomplished
Our naval authorities, Mr.. Hoover de-
clares, hold that the principle Of parity
means a complete defense Of the
United States in any contingency" and
defense, the Presidents stirring re-
joinder to the Legion commander points
out, sis all that we seek"
The incident which called forth the
Legion-White House correspondence was
provoked by the now celebrated an
nouncement of President Hoover on
July "A that work on three American
cruisers of the 1929-193O program would
be suspended pending current limita-
ton negotiations with Great Britain.
Comdr. McNutt challenged the wisdom
Of this gesture" in Premier MacDon-
aids direction. It was also implied in
the Legion's manifesto that the White
House action was unauthorized under
the law. The President does not enter
into any argument as to the legality Of
his procedure, but he thrusts unmis-
takably at the Legion leaders protest
BY asserting that every person OF COM
mon sense will agree" that 1t Is prefer
able to negotiate for parity than to try
to establish it by rival constructions on
both sides of the Atlantic"
Not even the most Jealous advocate
Of naval preparedness can reasonably
object % the policy of seeking equality
with Britain through the processes OF
friendly parley. In the present case,
the desired end cannot be attained over
night or by any outright assertion OF
rights. President Hoover reminds
Conadr. McNutt that 1.-The actual prob
lens that lie before us are intricate and
far more difficult than can be solved by
the simple formula" of building enough
American cruisers to match British
cruiser strength, existent or projected.
Between the lines of the Presidents
statement are plainly to be read the
lines of policy which he has laid
down-Q) a determination to ex-
haust every possibility to establish
r.1 80, I%, -,,;tt, |.raat T3ritoi IN Through
friendly negotiation, and ca If the
complete defense Of the United States"
cannot thus be achieved there is always
In allegiance the cruiser program which
Congress has enacted, and, obviously,
such additions to 1t as subsequent con-
ditions may require. Reduced to It's
plain essentials, President Hoover
seems to say to the country, through
his letter to the Legion-in the language
Of the ancient story-"Don't throw any
thing at the piano player; he's doing
the best he can" Under the present
critical circumstances, in other words.
Mr.. Hoover asks the American people
to rest assured that the administra-
ton, being Of fixed purpose to main
tain what its responsible naval ad-
visers consider complete defense" will
not sacrifice any vital American In
terest in the British negotiations.
The President Is evidently not pre-
pared at the moment to take the coun-
try into his confidence as to how
parity is to be evolved. But he has
now put himself definitely on record
that no matter what yardsticks are
finally utilized, none will be invoked
that threatens the basic security Of
the United States at sea. After all,
that Is what matters. How 1t Is
brought about matters little, n any
thing. The trrevocable principle Of
equality and safety Il now pledged to
the country, and President Hoover Is
entitled to a chance to work it out in
his own way.