Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-28

struggle to rid the farm relief bill Of
the debenture feature. Yesterday vir-
tually all of them we're in the position
Of defying the big Navy group, includ-
ing many of the leading adminiStra-
ton Senators. to start any move to
force the President to build flve cruz
sers a year for the next three years I'M
less an international agreement on
naval reduction Is actually reached.
1t is the contention of the big Navy
group. led by Senator Frederick Hale
of Maine. chairman of the Senate COM
mittee on naval affairs, and others
requisite to presidential suspension of
work on any of the Is cruisers author
lied to be started in the years 1929
1880 and 1881.
All of the Democratic and Republican
Senators mentioned have served notice,
in effect. that they, will fight any at
tempt to put through legislation direct
ing the President to proceed with the
full yearly quota Of five. Senator
Borsh anticipates. however, that such
move would be the signal for q bitter
struggle in Congress, and. while
obviously in sympathy with the Presi-
dents action in matching Britain's sus-
pension of work on five new naval
vessels. he indicates disagreement with
tbc EICSIucuIS HlleTpTCCdIlOTl OF the
cruiser bill to authorize him to hold
UP the entire cruiser program until
July !. 1891, If in his opinion 1t is In
the public interest.
The Presidents position as to this.
given out Friday at the White House,
was promptly challenged by Senator
Hale
Senator Borah, who was the first to
go to the Presidents support in this
tn f1Nly lnrx,
empowers only one years delay by the
President. Two OF the five cruisers
projected for this year are under con-
tract with private shipbuilding COM
panies and are not affected by the
PRESIDENTS order. Those affected were
three for which the Navy had awarded
contracts to the Brooklyn, Philadelphia
and Puget Sound Navy Yards.
Fight Is Expected.
The general feeling in Washington is
That any attempt to force the Presi-
dents hand in cruiser construction
while he is negotiating for international
reduction will not succeed. It is ex-
pected. however. that the issue will be
raised IN the regular session of Congress,
beginning in December. and will result
IN a spectacular fight. the third in
President Hoover's relations with Con-
gresS
While the fight might be started
either BY resolution supporting the
Presidents action or a resolution to
direct him to proceed with the program.
1t Is considered certain to be precipitated
when the naval appropriation bill is
reached. For In this bill account must
he taken OF the work to be done on
the cruiser program. for which a limited
appropriation of $17.000,000 was in
cluded for the first year.
Presloent Hoover, apparently is stalk
ing his chances on the backing of the
american people. The administration
mas frankly stated that it is trying. in
cooperation with the other powers to
mobilize public opinion for world peace
Administration leaders express gratif-
cation that the press of the country is
sympathetic with the President. They
oeneve that II 1t Is clear that the Presi-
cent mas the weight of public sentt-
ment behind him no move to restrict
MS latitude in the naval negotiations
will get far in Congress.
Watching Reaction.
The President, it was said, Is watch
ing carefully the reaction to his moves,
is greatly pleased with 1t to date, and
was determined to be guided by It, Con-
WINGED that he has the backing of pop
ular opinion, ne will not hesitate to
have 4 showdown with the big-Navy
group. Indeed. administration leaders
believe that such a showdown Is In
evitable If any move is made in Con-
aress TO force the President to start
work on cruisers whose construction he
has postponed for psychological effect
in advancement of the naval reduction
negotiations.
Once this situation is behind the
President, he Is likely to be faced by
series of other controversies over his
moves, not the least of them involving
the def1nition Of parity.
Navy League of America, and the Dig
Navy group, among others. have hailed
Britair's agreement to absolute parity
between the American and British
navies. It was said yesterday at the
headquarters OF the Navy League, that
the "reacceptance" Of this principle In
the present negotiations is important
because 1t commits the administrations,
on both sides OF the Atlantic. which are
now dealing with the naval reduction
question. To A greater or lesser extent.
it was considered to have been agreed
upon by the two English-speaking
nations In previous disarmament con-
ferences. :.
A controversy over the definition OF
pArity Is only one of the complications
that appear to lie ahead in the dificult
approach to international naval re-