Imperial Valley press., 1929-11-14
HEAD OF ENGLISH
NAVY COMMENTS
ON HOOVER IDEA
Lord Alexander Stresses
Need OF Stabilizing
ArmamentS.
By HENRY T. RUSSELL
Omitted Press Staff Correspondent
Copyright Throughout the World
1929 by United PreSSl

1929 by United Press)
LONDON, Nov. II. tU.P)-Stabili-
zation of world ;rmaments to pre-
vent any further competitive build
ing was stressed by Albert V. Alex
ander, first lord of the admiralty,
in an interview today, as a pivotal
point in progress towards world
peace.
The sea lord, second youngest
member of the collectively young
labor cabinet, yet head of the
worlds largest navy, discussed
peace and war and Anglo American
relations when he received the Unit
cd Press correspondent. Asked to
comment on President Hoover's
freedom of the seas doctrine, he re-
piled:
81 cannot add now anything to
the statements already made by the
prime minister. However, / can
say that any suggestion from the
President of the United States al
ways is received with the greatest
respect and attention throughout
the world.
"But in considering his proposals,
it seems clear that President Hoo
yer himself realizes that regard
must be had to changing circum-
stances consequential upon extension
cf world agreements for the aboli-
tion of war; and q discussion of ac-
tion which might have to be taken
in time of war becomes largely aca-
demic if peace is established and
war outlawed."
Declaring that 81 consider the
prospects for the Forthcoming five
power disarmament conference
hopeful" Alexander continued:
eff as the first step, an agree
ment can be secured for stabiliza-
tion to prevent either a continuance g
or commencement of competitive
ornaments, great step forward
will have been riade. When stabili-
zation has been secured, you then
have a point from which with every
Improvement in world political re-
lationships, pro ,ate reductions of
minimum defense requirements can
be agreed around table"
The sea lord added that if such
stabilization were secured at fu-
ture conferences, then it could we'll
be said that, ''if at given date of
such stabillzatlon agreement, before
there was reasonable experience of
the effect of the Kellogg pact, or
of extended use cf the league coven-
ant, or of the working of the OPP
tiOnal clause, such-and dsuch standard
of defense was sufficient, then sure.
ly when such experience is avail
able, it will be possible for us
around table to agree upon fur
ther reductions"
Is Former Preacher
"This is important" Alexander
continued, "bccause world disarma
ment in effective form cannot BE-
accomplished until it is general and
. by agreement"
Speaking of Anglo American re.
iGtions, the sea losd commented:
"lf two great and powerful Eng
disappearing peoples cannot under.
stand one another, then how on
earth can we possibly get world
entente that we all want."
The sea lord, who is II former
Baptist lay preacher, continually
smoked pipe aS he talked in Il
itch, baritone voice. He has q
striking, forccfu! personality and
has a knack of making a visitor feel
at home, partly by his pleasant
voice and the disarming smile which
lie uses to its greatest effect when
he desires to return negative to
an indisercct question. Physically,
lie is built like t'cerger Carpenter,
il bundle of energy and muscles con
cealcd III a relatively medium szcd
body.
Asked what he believed the effect
of scientific progress would be on
future wars, he replied: