Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-25
NAVAL PACT SEEN !.
AS AMERICA JOINS
BRITAIN IN PLEDGE
Cordial Background OF Hoo
ver-MacDonaId Messages
Indicates New Spirit.
GOOD WILL HELD MAJOR
RESULT OF DISCUSSIONS
Most American Leaders Express
Gratifcation-Britten Warns
of Failing for Deceit"
b the Associated Press.

b the Associated Press.
Pledges of curtailed naval building
from both Great Britain and America
were hailed in washington today as
indications of an approaching agree
ment upon the troublesome problem of
disarmament.
Even more significant perhaps was
the new spirit of cordiality and CO.
opera ton that has entered the nego-
tiations and has been interpreted by
President Hoover as evidence that the
two nations are no longer to be COM
petitors in the construction of vessels
of war, but are to work together as
friends in reducing their number.
With the PRONUNCIATION OF the Kel-
logg treaty relegating warfare to place
beyond the pale of the laws OF nations
came important announcements from
London and Washington upon which
are pinned the hopes of both govern
rents that an agreement Is not far
away.
Britain Cancels Work.
Addressing the House OF Commons,
Premier Macdonald announced that
Great Britain and America had agreed
upon parity, qualified by degree OF
elasticity to meet the needs OF both
nations, as the underlying principle of
disarmament discussions. He said,
further, that work on two British
cruisers was to be suspended, the con-
struction of submarine depot ship and
two submarines Cancelled and dock
yard work retarded In addition he
announced his intention of visiting the
United States in October.
Quick to respond, President Hoover
announced that the construction of
three cruisers of this years building
program would be postponed until there
is an opportunity to consider their eff
feet upon an agreement for parity,
which, he added, he expected to be
reached He welcomed MacDonald's
proposed visit and spoke of the real
satisfaction" with which he had read
press reports OF the prime minister's
address
Through both statements ran tone
of cordiality and good will that brought
many comments Of pleasure from of11-
cials here, and was regarded by many
as one of the most important outcomes
of the discussions that have gone for
ward in the last few weeks.
Law Allows Delay.
The cruisers referred to by the Presi-
dent are among those authorized by
the Is cruiser law, Whlcn Speclneo IlaC
they should be laid down at stated in
tervals within period OF three years,
and under the terms Of this measure,
construction could not be abandoned
except in the event of an international
agreement for reduction of naval arma-
nents. The law provided that five OF
these cruisers should be contracted for
in each of the years of fiscal years OF
1929, 1880 and 1881, and their con-
struction begun by the close Of the re-
spectively following fiscal years.
It was pointed out, however, that Mr..
Hoover could postpone their construc-
ton until the close of those fiscal years.
and that thus, the three mentioned by
the President need not be begun for
nearly IL months. Within this time,
the President is hopeful that an agree
ment with Great Britain on parity can
be affected.
At the Navy Department it was said
that these three vessels had been as
signed for construction to the navy
yards at New York, Philadelphia and
Bremerton, Wash. The two others OF
the first five ships under the 15-cruiser
law have been contracted for with
private builders. Originally it was
planned to initiate the work in the Fall.
On Capitol Hill there was much ia
vorable comment from members OF both
parties on the days developments. while
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