Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-11-21
Our Delegation at London.

Herbert Hoover has always been q
good picker of men. Those he has
chosen as the delegates Of the United
States at the London naval conference
are in all respects up to Hooverian
standards. For the purposes which will
bring the five sea powers of the world
together in January, the American dele
CATION is a mission of all the talents.
Diplomacy is represented by Secre-
tary of State Stimson and three OF our
most accomplished foreign Anb" -sa-
doris: Gen. Dawes from Great britain
Mr.. Morrow from Mexico and Mr.. Glib
son. a seasoned naval conference vet
eran, from Belgium. Statecraft finds
sterling spokesman in the persons OF
Senators Robinson of Arkansas and
Reed of Pennsylvania. The Navy De-
partment is appropriately typified by
Secretary Adams.
The country is treasured to know that,
in addition to this group of seven Of
fetal delegates, Admirals Jones and
Pratt are going to London in the ca
pacity of chief naval advisers. I'm
portant as are the political and inter-
national aspects Of the conference, its
object, after all, is to deal with purely
naval questions. The country would
not be content to see such questions
settled by statesmen to the exclusion
of sailors Admirals Jones and Pratt
may be depended upon to steer the
right course in counseling our civilian
representatives at London and, within
the Navy mems prerogatives, keeping
things on an even keel from the stand
point of Americas defense necessities.
The spirit of parity, which is the
handspring of the conference, is exem-
plified by the fact that the American
and British delegations will be numer-
ically equal. Each will be seven strong
Britain will have an Empire" delega-
ton made up of two spokesman for the
British Isles and five representing, re-
spectively, Canada, Australia, New zea-
land, the Irish Free State and South
Africa. Preponderance Of Dominion
strength in the British mission is, Of
course, born of the circumstance that
Kipling's "leaden seas" ring not merely
the United Kingdom, but that far-flung
territory on which 1.-The sun never sets. 4"
The thorny issue Of greater cruiser
ratio for Japan, and the equally dificult
problem of the Singapore naval base,
are matters essentially of Dominion in
terest, and of Australian interest in
particular.
The surprise in the announced
American conference personnel Is the
inclusion of Ambassador Morrow. 1t is
an agreeable surprise. A novice In
diplomacy up to three years ago, when
President Coolidge sent him to Mexico,
Dwight Morrow has proved himself an
adept in negotiation. Undoubtedly Lon
don will provide immediate and inces-
SAINT opportunity for all the negotiatory
talent the American delegation pos
sesSeS.
There is small likelihood that the con-
ference's comprehensive program, nc
matter how specific the agenda or well
digested in advance it may be, will be
carried out without hindrance. The
precedentS and the probabilities are all
in the other direction. Give and take
will have their inevitable innings. The
American people rejoice that seven
shrewd citizens will be the Republics
bargainers when bargaining sets in on
the Thames. 1t has been said that the
United States was outbargained at the
two preceding international conferences
of note, at Paris in 1919 and at Wash
ington in 1922. The country will
watch London, 1880, with vigilance, in
the light of its forerunners.
President Hoover conspicuouSly avoid:
the error of President Wilson at the
peace conference by appointing two
members of the United States Senate
to the naval conference. 1t is the Sen
ate that will have the last say on what
ever treaty London negotiates. witt
trusted spokesman of both the Repub
hcan and Democratic parties as CO.
authors of the prospective pact OF nava
limitation and reduction, there SHOULD
be a fair guarantee that it will not en-
counter the tragic fate of the treaty Of
Versailles OIL Capitol Hill nine years ago