Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-09-20
SENATE WATCHING
WNEGOT|AnONS
Refrain From Comment While
President Continues Talks
on Arms Cut.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
Virtually playing lone hand In his
naval limitations negotiations with
Great Britain so far. President Hoover
nevertheless is under the eye Of a
watchful, If silent. Senate, the court Of
last review on the contemplated treaty
for armaments restriction.
Privately, and apparently sincerely,
all factions in the Senate profess de-
sire for success in naval limitations ef-
fort, and for this reason the members
explain they are refraining from discus
sion at this time.
Mr.. Hoover, however, will have to deal
with some varying views in the Senate
on the subject, and whether he will fol-
low the policy of President Harding in
the 1921 naval conference and have the
chamber represented on the American
delegation In the negotiations Is un-
known.
Eonsulted. Bsrah. u &
While he consulted several times with
Chairman Borah OF the Senate foreign
relations committee on the subject OF
naval limitations In the early stages OF
the discussions with Premier MacDon-
aid, the President apparently has con-
ferred with none of the Senate In the
more recent developments.
Senator Borah, an opponent OF the
15-cruiser bill enacted at the last ses-
sion, made 1t clear to Mr.. Hoover that
he was interested in q naval conference
II some actual reductions were to be
I~k a. - - etA SaR 2Nm 40
Britain and the United States. The
inference drawn from the Idaho SEN
ator's position was that. If limitation
was to be accomplished without reduc-
ton in the present strength Of the Brit
ish and American navies, he was not
particularly concerned about the forth
coming conference.
Presenting q somewhat different view,
the strong Navy group in the Senate
apparently has a considerable number
Of votes. Headed by Chairman Hale Of
son Of Virginia, the ranking Democrat,
this force will be insistent that any
agreement reached with Great Britain
provide strictly for an equality OF the
two navieS.
Dislikes. British Plan.
without talking for publication. some
Of this group are frowning on the pro-
gram discussed in London which would
restrict the American S-inch cruisers
to 10. This problem is about the last
point of difference 50 far between Mr..
Macdonald and the President. and In
dications are that 1t may 60 over to the
Forthcoming conference for decision.
Should Mr.. Hoover decide upon Sen
ate representation in the American
delegation he would undoubtedly turn to
Borah, who would have charge Of a
treaty in the Senate, and either Robin
son of Arkansas, the Democratic leader
and a member of the foreign relations
ginia, tthe ranking Democratic member.
All three OF the Senator'S are known
as independent thinkers and workers.
Borah, on the one hand. is not con-
Britain. He wants Great Britain to
sink some Of her ships, If parity is nec-
essary. and he wants smaller navtes.
Both Robinson and Swanson are strong
defense advocates and among those who
would insist upon well understood
basis providing for naval equality be-
tween England and America.
@ Ships Withdrawn.
Pointing to the eventual reduction of
Americas large preponderance over
Great Britain in destroyer strength, the
Navy Department has ordered SO ships
Of this class withdrawn from the battle
and scouting fleets.
They will be replaced with destFoyers
drawn from a reserve of 159 now tied
up at San Diego and Philadelphia, but
these. too, eventually will be decommis-
stoned and the American and British
Navies. which now have. respectively.
262 and 1874 ships Of this class, will thus
be. brought closer to parity in that
category.
The SO ships ordered decommissioned,
like most Of the others, were constructed
during the World War. The Navy never
regarded them as satisfactory. however.
and after their 10 years of service the
engines and boilers have reached a
point where repairs are considered un-
economical.
The ships at San Diego and Phila-
delphia from which replacements will
be drawn have been tied up for about
the same period. Navy experts how
ever, regard them as superior to those
now being retired, and they have been
maintained In good condition,