Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-27
ST|MSON STUDIES
NAVAL QUESTIONS
Secretary of State Gathers
All Data Possible for Con-
ference in London.

Henry L, StimSon, Secretary of State,
who will be chairman of the American
delegation at the forthcoming London
Naval Disarmament Conference, is pre-
pairing well in advance for the difficult
task that awaits him late in January,
he disclosed yesterday at the State De-
partment.
Responding to questions propounded
at a press conference, Secretary Slim
son revealed he had been in daily con-
ference with members of the general
Navy board for some time, and prob
ably would continue until time for MS
departure for London.
The presence of the naval officers AT
the State Department at first gave rise
to rumors that the visiting officers were
all to be experts attached to the Amer
lean mission. Secretary StimSon quickly
put this rumor to rest by explaining the
real reason for their visits, adding that
other reports were unfounded at this
time.
Particular interest was raised when
Rear Admiral Hilary P. Jones, mem
Der of the American mission at the tri-
partite conference of 1927 and fire.
quent adviser to President Hoover dur
ing the preliminary Anglo-American
conversations, and Rear Admiral VII
liam v. Pratt, commander in-chief OF
the battle fleet, appeared among others.
It had been known for some time
that Admiral Jones and Admiral Pratt
would head the naval advisory commit
tee to the delegation The presence OF
other officers with them at the State
Department Immediately gave rise to
reports that the United States was TO
have an exceptionally large complement
If n the St2TpS-
men on the delegation. Secretary Slim
son particularly dissipated this report
Secretary Stimson pointed out that
Rear Admiral H. H. Hough, another
member of the board, had left his office
Immediately before he received the
newspaper men. The Secretary OF state
said he had been getting information
and instructions from ALL stating he was
doing no more than he would whenever
he had difficult task to perform.
Secretary StimSon also had been In
communication with Senator Reeo, he
publ "a, of Pennsylvania, and Senator
Robinson, Democrat, of Arkansas, the
senatorial members Of the mission. His
conversations with them have been
purely informal, however, and in the
case of one it was conducted by mail.
Secretary Stimson said his purpose was
to get all of the information he could
possibly lay his hands on before the
mission sails in January.
1t is probable that most OF the mem
bers of the mission will confer with
President Hoover this week, when
Charles G. Dawes, American Ambas-
sador to Great Britain, who also is
slated to become member of the mis-
sion, arrives In Washington. Ambas-
sador Dawes has been invited to make
the White House his home during his
stay here, and while his visit has tenta-
lively been fixed for the end of the
week, 1t may be postponed until the be-
ginning of the following week
President Hoover also is keeping thor
oughly informed of the progress of
preparations for the departure of the
American mission. Secretary Stimson
and Joseph p. Cotton, Undersecretary of
State, spent some time with the Presi-
dent at the executive Office yesterday
morning. 1t was understood they dis
cussed certain phases of the impending
naval conference, but no formal state
ment was made by either following the
meeting.
Secretary Stimson said yesterday he
had not been advised that France and
italy had about reached an agreement
on the naval problem as it affects them
individually, which was reported yester-
day in press dispatches from Paris. He
said 1t was interesting. but he could not
comment until he was certain 1t was
true. Secretary Stimson added that the
American embassies in Paris and Rome
were not participating in the converse
lions between France and Italy.