Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-18
The U. s. Delegation to London.

British government to the naval powers
urging their attendance at a naval limi-
tation conference have all been accepted,
plans for participation by this Govern
ment will go forward rapidly. 1t de-
wolves upon the President to select the
members of the American delegation.
Mr.. Hoover, according to reports, is
giving careful consideration to this
matter and has discussed it with Chair
man Borah of the Senate foreign rela-
tons committee and with the Repubn-
can and Democratic leaders in the
Senate, Senator Watson of Indiana and
Senator Robinson of Arkansas, respec-
lively. In some quarters it is suggested
that Secretary Stimson, head of the
Department of State, will be Americas
sole delegate, aided by competent
corps Of advisers.
II such o course should be followed
by the President it will be q departure
from the plan Of the first great naval
limitation conference which was held
here in 1921-22. At that time the
United States was represented by a
delegation of four, headed by the Secre-
tary of State, Mr.. Hughes. The other
members of the delegation were Senators
Lodge of Massachusetts, and Underwood
Of Alabama and Elihu Root, q former
Secretary Of State and former Sena-
tor. The British, French, Italian and
japanese delegations also were COM
posed Of four members each. Probably
President Hoover will be guided some
what in the naming Of the delegation
to the London conference by the size
Of the delegations sent to the confer
ence by the other powers. If Britain,
for example, is to be represented by
three or four principal delegates, it is
scarcely likely that the United States
would be represented by q delegation
smaller in size. France, Italy and
Japan may likewise prefer to send more
than a single delegate each 10 the con-
ference.
Also arises the question as to the adj
visibility Of including in the personnel
the Senate Of the United States. The
Senate was represented at the WASH
ington conference. There was no
Senate representation in the delegation
which went to Geneva in 1927.
Americas delegates there were Hugh
Gibson, the ambassador to Belgium,
and Rear Admiral Hilary Jones,
U. s. N. retired. Nor did President
Wilson take any members Of the Senate
to Paris with him for the peace con-
ference after the World War. There is
one cult which believes that Senators
should be omitted from the delegation
at the coming conference because the
Senate must In the end sit in judgment
on any treaty that may be negotiated
This desire to hold aloof, however, may
be regarded as an indication that the
Senate is to pound the treaty to pieces
after 1t shall have been submitted
rather than to consider it sympathetic
caIly. Furthermore, as the Senate
must eventually pass upon a naval
treaty, why would it not be advisable
that the Senate should have first-hand
information regarding the negotiations
from its own members, appointed as
delegates to the conference?
The word has gone out that Senator
Borah would prefer not to be dele
gate to the conference. II this be so,
he differs apparently with the judy
ment Of his predecessor, the late Sen
ator Lodge of Massachusetts, who
served on the American delegation at
the Washington conference. If Senator
Borah were a member Of the confer
ence he might well prove o tower Of
strength and an able adviser at the
conference table. But If Senator Borah
has eliminated himself, as 1t Is now
reported, the President may turn to
other members of the foreign relations
committee and find delegates well fltted
for the task.
The coming naval conference is Of
vast Importance and significance to the
world and to the United States. Doubt
less the President will pick the ablest
representatives which this country can
find as its delegates. Ambassador Dawes,
familiar with all the preliminary ne
gotiations at London, has been regarded
as almost q certain selection If the
delegation has more than one member.
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Arguments relating to possible war
often appear to neglect the influence
of aircraft In the way Of modern i'm