Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-02
HOOVER FOOD SHIP
PLAN IS SUPPORTED
Author of British Annual Out.
lines Plan for Protection
During Warfare.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE,
Stan Correspondent Of the Star.

BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE,
stan Correspondent Of the Star.
By Radio to Ths Star.
LONDON, February 1.-President
Hoover's Armistice day proposal for i'm.
munizltion of food ships from inter.
ference in war time has just beer
brought unofficially to the attention ol
the Naval Conference from a distin-
guished British quarter Capt Alfred
Dewar, Royal Navy, now a member oil
the naval staff of the Admiralty, who Is
writing the 1880 edition of Brassey's
Naval and Shipping Annual-Britain's
maritime bible-declares boldly that
Hoover's suggestion raises the whole
question of the nature of war"
Dewar ascribes present American de-
mand for cruisers and equality with the
British navy to the fact that the United
States does not intend again, as it was
in 1914, 1915 and 1916 to be subjected
to arbitrary molestation in its ship
ping. He whole-heartedly Identifies
himself with 1.-The call of humanity
sounded by Hoover. and submits de-
tailed plan for giving effect to the Pres
ldent'S program. Dewar thinks lit
should be possible to devise an organiZa-
ton on the lines of the Belgian Relief
to enable food to pas through to sick
persons and young children. under the
heading of necessitous relief" This
would require a system OF control Tor
distribution, but essentially the ques-
ton is one of machinery. Until such
machinery can be created, Dewar plainly
intinates that anything the Naval Con-
ference achieves viii be woefully deli
Gent.
Published for Farley.
The 1880 number Of Brassey's Annual
was published with a special view TO
the approach of the Five-Power Naval
Conference, and made its appearance
on the eve Of its opening.
Under the title Food Ships" Capt.
Dewar, who ranks as one of the Mahans
of British naval service says, Though
both Premier Macdonald and President
Hoover have said that the question OF
freedom of the seas will not be raised
at the conference, Hoover has offered
for consideration to the world the ques-
ton of food ships passing free from in
reference in wartime.
This raises the whole question OF
the nature of war; War is an en-
deavor to exert such pressure on an
opponent as to force him to submit to
ones will. If 1t is to be over quickly
the pressure should be continuous and
as severe as possible. This was Lord
Fishers doctrine and is the doctrine OF
Oil NA4bCAG O4 wal A9COhOAAAAS PASoSAAC
is one of the instruments of war. It |
was one of the most powerful aids in
the allied victory. On the other hand
there exists the call Of humanity and In
the late war the humane fighter won
over the ruthless one.
1T is possible to summarize the pro-
poSals for obviating future shipping
difficulties which en1bittered Anglo
American relations early in the war.
These proposals are I'd first and fore
most and entirely in line with the peace
treaty is the establishment OF an or
ganiZation, both national and inter-
national, to ascertain and identify the
quantity and nature of normal trade |
and supply certifcation for 1t in war
time; (2) munitions of war and war
supplies going to armed forces, remain |
as ALWAYS. contraDand. liable to seizure |
and coniscation; CD the normal trade |
of neutrals with neutrals shan pass
freely If certihcated and reported by q
competent control; 14) normal trace OF
neutrals with a belligerent in non-con-
traband shall pass freely if certihcateo;
(5D normal trade of neutralS with Del
1iqerents in conditional contraDanQs
such as Oil rflber, ETC., snail be Ilaple
TO interrogation, but II certihcated shan
be subject only TO pre-emption: Govern
true nature and destination of the car
goes. Detention shall be limited to a |
maximum of IA days in port. Ships |
shall be unloaded with raptdity and as |
patch; 60 neceSsitous trade IN food ano
necessities for sick persons and chill
dren viii be allowed to pass duly
certihcated by competent control. Fer-
mission NAV be withdrawn If there Is
reason to believe it is being n1isused."
Can't. Dewar admits these proposals
are "outside the tract of the old books,
but lust as President Hoover boldly
blazes a new trail, Dewar asserts that
his plan is "a channel into clear, open
waters, of an agreement which would
form a working compromise between
the requirements of peace treaty ana
the demands Of war necessity ana
neutral trade.
BIames Machinery Lack.
cit was lack of businesslike machinery,
such as is here projected, that was
largely responsible for the deploraole
DELAYS in the early part of the late war
delays which now, years later, haunt
us in the form Of the American de-
nand for cruisers I still remember the
case of the big Dutch liner, full OF
American passengers being sent all the
way around to Bristol Channel to be
unloaded, waiting there, uSelessly. for
a fortnight and finally having to be re-
leased without having been unloaded.
The delay was not caused by the Navy,
but by the lack of efficient machinery.
We began war with code and no
machinery. We ended it with machinery
and no code. 1t is by perfecting a
skeleton organization for such ma
chinery that a solution will be found.
"One thing is certain, namely, that
questions of naval strengths and dis
armament have become questions or
international policy and must be dis
cussed in a spirit Of genuine. sincere
desire for peace. In such spirit neither
Great Britain nor the United States
should be found wanting"
On the question of freedom of the
seas. Dewar says: This whole subject
requires completely new orientation, not
merely in the light Of modern war
operations. such as the new blockade,
but in the light of the peace treaty.
Freedom of the seas apparently means
no interference to neutral trade beyond
stoppage of munitions of war. Neutrals
are to be allowed to pour supplies into
belligerent countries. This may be
freedom of the seas, but it is also free
dom to feel and encourage war. 1t is
completely contrary to the spirit in
epiring President Hoover and Premier
Macdonald and to the strong desile
visible on both sides of the Atlantic to
make a real effort to discourage wal"