Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-30
HOOVER IN ACCORD
! WITH DELEGATION
Official Statement Clears Air
and Ends Fear of
Political Pact.

President hoover ana Vne AE1eElCdAi
delegation at the London Naval Confer
ence are in complete accord as to the
aims Of the psrley, and it is the high
hope" In washington that plan for
the reduction and limitation of naval
arms "can be evolved which VIII meet
the approval of the American people
and VIII be corsonant with our national
policies and ideals"
The first formal and official pro-
ucuncement in Washington regarding
the question of suggested hve-power
consultative pact was made yesterday by
Joseph p Cotton, acting Secretary OF
State, after conference with President
Hoover. 1t served to clear the air ana
set at rest the fears Of Senators mere
that Henry l.. StimSon, Secretary OF
State and chief of the American delega-
ton in London was preparing to write
American adherence to an agreement
with Great Britain, France and italy IN
the Mediterranean, which might lead to
American inducements in European po-
Htical affairs.
An announcement by Secretary Slim
son in London. on Wednesday, mdicat-
ing that the United States was open
minded on some character Of con-
sultative pact, and later UNOFFICIAL dis
patches from London that draft pact
was being written. led to confusion here,
and a report in Senate circles Friday
that President Hoover had communi-
Gated with Mr. Stimson as to the White
House views.
Mr.. Cottons Statement.
Mr.. Cotton's statement, after he had
consulted with the President yesterday,
made no mention Of consultative pact.
It read in part:
iaThere are no differences Of views
between the President and our delega-
ton IN London. The delegation has
always had and now has, his unquan-
fed support and authority. The dele
CATION Is in London patiently to explore
every suggestion made, and every pos
siblity that leads to the great purpose
Of the conference.
while the statement made no men
ton Of the consultative-pac suggestion,
it seemed clearly to rule out. more
firmly than ever, the hope Of France,
if it exists, that the American delega-
ton will afix this country's signature
to a consultative pact.
In the opinion of some observers
here. it proceeded beyond this, strongly
to indicate that. in the event Of failure
Of a five-power pact, the United states
avoids the charge Of contributing to its
failure.
Traditional Policy.
And American policy regarding
European political inducements, it is
pointed out here, has not been in force
merely since the Senate's refusal TO
adhere to Article x Of the league
covenant, but comes down through long
lanes Of American history.
President Hoover made this clear IN
his conference with Ramsey Macdonald,
the British prime minister, at the
Rapidan camp, and 1t was made part OF
q Joint statement issued on. October 10
after the conference.
1.-THE part of each OF our govern
nents in the promotion OF world peace
will be different" the joint statement
said, CAS- one win never consent to be-
come entangled in European diplomacy,
and the other is resolved to pursue a
policy OF actual cooperation with its
European neighbors, but each OF our
government VIII direct its thoughts and
influence toward securing and main
tanning the peace Of the world"
JohnsOn's Position.
Senator Hiram johnson, Republican
Of California. joined yesterday with
other members Of the Senate foreign
relations committee in viewing any
character of consultative pact which
the delegation might adhere to in Lon
don as of a political character.
Announcement from London Friday
EilG,b BQEIE WhS IlO ulbGIAJlOkA O14 bAkC poA
Of Mr.. Stimson and the delegation to
model consultative pact after the Pa
cifc pact Of 1922 did not allay eena-
tnrial objections to a consultative pac
with Mediterranean naval powers. The
Pacific pact, it is pointed out, has moth
ing In common with a European pact
Of similar character, and as vague al
this pact is, 1t leaves nothing to Offer
France in the way Of bastioning q
- 1eff tai
unless France regards IL as O. depart
ure from the traditional American
policy.
Senator johnson said yesterday hs
believed there would be no dif1culty II
defeating any naval program which
the American delegation might brfne
back to Washington If it involved the
suspicion Of politics. The American
delegation, he insisted, went to LondoT
to limit arms with the view Of cuttint
down the tremendous tax burdens o.
peoples, and despite propaganda in thii
country, which would have naval liIni.
tations at any cost, he did not believI
the Senate would agree to anything
more than the result Of the origina
aims Of the conference.
There are 10 members of the Senat
foreign relations conmittee-which vii
pass on a naval limitation treaty.
Republicans and Democrats. Tw
members-Senator David A. Reed, Re
publican, of Pennsylvania, and JOSEPH
Robinson, Democrat, of Arkansas, ar
members of the American delegation
IN London. OF the remaining II, Sena
tor johnson was the seventh membe
to declare against the principle Of
European consultative pact. OF tn
remaining 10, some Senators wer
either absent from Washington yes
terday or had not expressed themselye
either way.
Senator Johnson issued his statemen
without regard to the State Depart
nnent announcement, which appears
to be significant. He said:
II confess great perplexity abou
what is happening in London. I hav
taken it for granted up to this tim
from the press articles that there wa
no possibility Of our representative
abroad entering into any pact whicl
might be construed in the slightes
degree as political
"Of course, it goes without sayinl
that If any such agreement should
made which ties us in with Europea
controversies or difficulties it will NEE
with the most determined oppositio
here and shall be very glad to cour
myself as one of its opponents"
Important Phase.
One of the important phases of til
consultative pact problem as seen
some observers here is the necessii
which now confronts Mr. Stimson
getting the United States of the recon
NE"TON HATsT