Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-07-31
PARITY IS DEFENSE
FORHOOvER ACTION
President Answers Legion
Heads Criticism of Anglo
u Navy Stand.

Naval parity with Great Britain as
sures a complete defense of the United
States in any contingency, according
to the opinion of President Hoover, ex-
pressed in q letter to Col. Paul v. Nc
Mutt. national commander Of the Amer
lean Legion,
Efficient national defense is all that
the American Government is seeking in
the matter of its preparedness pro-
gram, according to the President, and
he considers the policy of naval parity
as being far superior to one OF COM
petitive naval building.
Mr. Hoover's reply to the American
Legion head, which was made public
last night, was accepted here today as
not only a strong defense Of his gen.
eral program for further naval ltmita-
lions. but of his recent action in halt
ing construction work on three cruisers
authorized in the naval building pro-
gram.
Reply Called Timely.
His reply also is accepted in many
quarters as being especially timely be-
cause of rumblingS in the form OF crit
icism of his temporary holding up of
the cruiSer-buildin gprogram. Some in
terpret the Presidents letter to Col.
McNutt as a rebuke because of a de-
mand contained in a recent letter from
the Legion chief to the President III
which It was set forth with some en-
phasis that the American Legion want
ed a Navy for this country equal TO
that of Great Britain.
At any rate, the President seemed to
welcome the opportunity afforded by
Col. McNutts letter of protest not only
to enlighten the Legion but all others
who have either criticized his policy or
have been skeptical of the propriety
or wisdom of his course.
His answer to Col. McNutt is the
first public expression offered by Mr..
Hoover since his pronouncement last
week. in which he made public his
suspension of building operations on
three 10,G00-ton cruiser contracts
contracts which had already been
awarded by the Navy Department.
While he defended and interpreted his
naval parity policy, Mr.. Hoover in his
reply. however, did not answer those
who have been questioning his authority
to hold up the building program.
Refers to Statement.
referring 10 1Ol. N2CNuLI SSdbCAACAAS
that the American Legion stood for
permanent peace and better under
standing between nations, the President,
in his reply, declared the first step Of
the renewed consideration of reduction
of the excessive world naval armament
has been acceptance of that principal
as preliminary to discussion between
Great Britain and the United States,
which step, he stated, lis forward step
Of the first importance"
The President went on to contend
that 1t seems to him that every person
of common sense will agree that 1t is
far better to at least try to establish
such a relation by agreement before re-
signing to continued attempts to estab-
lish it by rival construction programs
on both sides of the Atlantic. Naval
competition, he pointed out, creates
burdensome expenditures. q constant
stream of suspicion, i'll will and miSun-
derstandings.
The Presidents letter to the Legion
executive was made public shortly after
a conference he had at the White House
with Secretary of State Stimson and
Undersecretary of State Cotton, who
called to report upon the progress In the
negotiations at London by Ambassador
Dawes after the generals discussion yes
terday with Ramsay Macdonald, Brit
ish premier.
Full Text Of Letter.
The Presidents letter to Col McNutt,
In full, is as follows:
MY Dear MIR. McNutt:
IT am glad to have your assurance
that the American Legion supports the
policy of parity for our Navy with that
of Great Britain. This principle is
enunciated by our naval authorities as
a complete defense Of the United States
in any contingency and defense Is all
that we seek.
1.-The first step of the renewed con-
sideration of reduction of the excessive
world naval armament has been accept
ance of that principle as a preliminary
to discussion between Great Britain and
the United States. This is a forward
step of the first importance.
cit seems to me that every person OF
common sense will agree that it is far