Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-25
NAVAL DELEGATES
RETAIN OPTIMISM
Americans Are Especially
Confident of Ultimate
Success.
BY FREDERICK WILLIAM VILE.
stan Correspondent Of The Star.


stan Correspondent of The Star.
BY Radio to The star
LONDON, February 25.-"The storm
before the calm" is not an inaccurate
description of the status of the Naval
Conference at this hour. The storm
which the conference is weathering is a
squall of doubts and uncertainties, heav-
lily charged with the lighting of pes
simism.
But there is hardly delegate Of any
of the powers who doesn't believe the
conference will ride the storm. That
confidence is visible in special degree
among the Americans.
One thing, however, is assured; the
American delegation is not going back to
Washington empty-handed. 1t may not
bring a five-power pact, but 1t WILL De
three, if possible, or an Anglo-American
limitation treaty If necessary.
Americans Are Set on This Score.
1t is impossible to exaggerate the
DELEGATIONS flxity of purpose on this
score. The Jaws of every American on
the spot are dead set and VIII remain
so until the bitter end.
President Hoover's Spokesman here
counsel the American people to have
patience. If their patience is waning,
they are asked to recall the history OF
the Washington Conference. There in
one forenoon, following the explosion
of the celebrated Hughes bombshell, the
conference accomplished three weeks OF
ordinary naval negotiations in as many
hours. The London Conference Is hve
weeks old today.
On all sides it is comprehended that
NxrffI
France. The French, henceforth, will
be represented at st. James Palace by
two veterans of the Washington Con-
ference-Briand and Saviaut. The lat
ter is the new minister of marine in
Chsutemps cabinet.
BRAND to Mould Policy.
BRAND, however, will be intrusted
with the moulding of the French policy
in London. He is not expected by states
men who know him best, to guide his
country's program here along the road
which leads to certain isolation If the
French prove unyielding.
BRAND is co-author o. the pact to
renounce war. Britain, America and
Japan have publicly proclaimed at Lon
don that the pact is a shield behind
which all their efforts to end war causes
in naval competition are being exerted.
defiant slogan Security or Ships" at
his masthead, he is exceedingly likely
to subject himself to some plain speak
ing. It will be forthcoming from both
British and American quarters. Its
burden will be that France is risking
loss of prestige in this country and the
United States.
Watch TOkiO's Spokesman.
In the meantime. almost as many
conference eyes are anXiouSly turned
toward JapanS direction as across the
Channel toward France. All concerned
are glad that the japanese elections are
over. Prom the conferences standpoint,
the sweeping victory of the government
party is eminently satisfactory. With
a landslide vote of confidence in the
Minseito ministry now received it is
taken for granted that the government
has freedom of action which it
hitherto was felt it would be unwiSe
TO indulge.
The Stars correspondent asked an
American delegate this morning what
he would say If some of the exhalted per-
sons IN washington should get him on
the transatlantic phone and ask point
blank where the conference stands.
This Is what he said: IT would say
first that no impeachment whatever
stands between US and agreement with
Britain; second, that the solution to
our difficulties with Japan is just
around the corner; third, that Italy
would assent informally to any three
power treaty Britain, America and
Japan might conclude; and fourth, we
are not ready yet to believe that the
French are ready to shoulder the blame
for dashing the whole worlds hopes for
the success Of the London Conference"
American delegates scout the theory
that the Admiral Jones quitting scene
was not so much on account Of illness
as disgust.