Imperial Valley press., 1929-07-25
Nations Nearing
Naval Accord
Continued From Page y
looking to an agreement upon fu-
ture building projects.
Next Move noubtful


Next Move Doubtful
Informed diplomatic quarters de-
ehned today to predict the next
move. Speculation centered, how
ever, on the probability that the
British premier would bring with
him on his contemplated visit for
mula under which the United States
and Great Britain might join in an
invitation to all the principal naval
powers to Il world conference for
effective reduction of those classes
Of vessels not limited by the Wash
ington treaty of 1922.
This, ,sbroadly, was the program
outlined by President Hoover in
his Memorial day address in Airing
ton National Cemetery, in which he
set down as the first principle of
the United States policy, "parity
in naval strength with the strong
est of powers.
While naval experts continued to
whittle at their commercial "yard-
stick" in preparation for the pros
pective resumption of the reduction
discussions, chiefs of army bureaus
were busy today planning "defen-
Sive tactics to preserve their bud
gets against the general staff study
which President Hoover has order
ed with a view to reducing the
United States military outlay. The
President 5 order which pointed to
a prospective army and navy
"purely military budget of $685.,
600, ,000 in 1888, has placed many
army chiefs on the anxious seat
Neither the White House nor the
war department has indicated how
much might be cut from the army
budgets during the next four years
under the new policy. President
Hoover 5 own statement set only
the limit of adequate defense.'
WASHINGTON, July 25. U.P)-
Anglo American naval parity,
agreed upon in 1921 as far as bat
tleships are concerned, now has been
extended to all categories of fight
ing ships, Secretary of State Stim-
son said today.
His statement was an interpreta-
tion of the announcement of par
ity agreement made yesterday by
Premier Mac Donald in London and
President Hoover here.
q In my opinion this is an i'm
mense and tremendous step for
ward Stimson said.
The next step is to adopt method
of applying the principle-to en-
volve and apply the Hoover "yard-
stick - officials said. President
Hoover conferred with Secretary of
Navy Adams regarding the naval
situation.
Criticisms challenging President
Hoover s power to suspend build
ing of three cruisers, the keels of
which were to be laid in navy yards
this fall, were met Immediately by
officials. They explained the ships
were now in blueprint stage, the
keels not having been laid.
The President in his executive
capacity has control of the navy
yards, it was explained.
Stimson announced that other
naval powers have been kept in
formed of the progress of the
Anglo American discussions which
have been carried on 50 far largely
by Premier Mac Donald and Am
bassador Dawes in London.
Macdonald and President Hoover
Plan 10 continue their discussions
concerning the British premier 8
scheduled visit to Washington in
October.
Discussing the parity agreement
which is held here to be much more
important than the temporary sus-
pensions, Stimson said that the pur-
pose of parity is to prevent the two
navies from building against each
other and to accomplish instead Il
reduction of their respective naval
power. Thus, he said, the action
represents an agreement that Great
Britain and the United States
should not regard each other as pos
sible enemies in that they agree not
to move as potential enemies by
trying to build larger fleets.
TIL" doctrine of parity thus used
is the only doctrine by which two
proud and independent nations in
the positions occupied by Great
Britain and America could agree to
be friends and to eliminate the
thought of war between them, in
Stimson's opinions.
He suggested il might be futile
from military sense to try to make
two fleets equal, but he pointed out
that the doctrine as used is not
military but a doctrine of states
lnanship.
Stimson announced he would issue
formal statement on the parity
question later today.