Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-29
z NAVAL LEADERS
FAVOR CUT IN ARMS
AdmiraIS Pratt and Jones Are
Regarded as Among Most
Helpful at London.
BY EDWARD PRICE BELL.


by Radio to The Star and Chicago Daily
News. CopyriEht, 1890.
LONDON, England, January 29.-
Two of the wisest and most helpful
members of the American contingent
at the Naval Conference are Admiral
William v. Pratt, commander in chief of
the United States feet, and Rear Ad-
miral Hilary P. Jones, retired. This fact
may seem extraordinary to some people,
since admirals often are cast in the role
OF wreckers of naval conferences. II
the London Conference waits to be
wrecked until Admirals Pratt and
Jones wreck it, there viii be a long
wait for that misfortune. And what
can be said in this respect Of these
two officers seems so far to be ap-
plicable to the naval advisers of the
other delegations. not excepting those
of Great Britain, with its unparalleled
dependence upon sea power.
Both Pratt and Jones, like most
naval officers, are gentlemen-honest,
frank, educated, courteous, eager for
friendship If they can get 1t on decent
terms, not averse to fighting, If fight
ing is unavoidable. These representa-
tives Of the American Navy are per-
forming q double service in London.
They are cultivating relations Of mutual
esteem with representatives Of other
navies and they are exercising good
influence upon the press.
Willing to Talk.
How do they accomplish this latter
feat? BY being sympathetic with news
IL a.
receive a newspaper man. They al
ways have time or take time to talk
with him. They are forbidden, of
course, to reveal any SecretS-Secretary
of State Henry l.. Stimson sees to that
Nor would they reveal any secrets If no
Stimson orders existed. They discuss
problems of the conference with cor
correspondents and give such aid to their
anquirerS as they properly can.
Public opinion is recognized in all
countries as the hope of naval reduc-
ton and the movement for peace.
Former Secretary of State Frank B.
Kellogg, for instance, has stated on
several occaSionS-on one very en-
.phatically to mySelf-that nothing but
popular enthusiasm for practical steps
toward peace enabled him to negotiate
the omnilateral peace pact, hailed at
the London conference as the mainstay
OF the arms reductions. And how do
you reach public opinion? Almost ex-
elusively through the newspaper.
Yet the newspaper men at this con-
ference, but for certain exceptions like
those in the cases Of Pratt and Jones,
have been kept pretty well out in the
cold. What do newspaper men-or, at
least, some Of them-do in such circum-
ttances2 They dream. They invent.
They try to respond to distant editors
calls for news or views or something.
Mr.. Stimson and his fellow delegates
are very busy-no doubt about that.
No fair-minded correspondent wishes to
emhArrass any one of them. But they
all have secretaries Sam pro-
vtdes them with secretaries. At the
least they could dictate courteous replies
to courteous journalistic overtures. And
they could get up a little bit earlier
at their hotels to receive correspondents,
who must see them early or be late TO
see them a. all.
StimsOn Is Spokesman.
It is wonderful what q change has
come over some of the American dele
gates to this conference in their atti-
tude toward newspaper men. Take AM
basSador Dwight w. Morrow, for ex-
ample. He was known in Mexico City
as one Of the most intelligent, consid-
crate and Enthusiastically Judi
caouS-friends the newspaper men ever
had in public life. He trusted the men
Of the press whom he knew. He con-
cealed from them next to nothing And
he was never too preoccupied or IA
tigued to talk with them. But how is
It here? Ambassador Morrow says:
"StimSon is the boss; he is our spokes-
man." And Mr.. Stimson says little or
nothing.
None of which is written in bitter
ness. Mr.. Stimson's responsibilities are
great, and his perplexities many. He
cannot be as frank as he might wish to
be. His utterances must be guarded be-
cause he is dealing with the condolences
OF other men. Later he may be franker.
The conference is only beginning. But
one is bound to remind him that the
British and other delegations have
haison with the press which, while re-
vealing no facts not ripe for revelation,
gives the press good deal of interest
Ing and pertinent matter to go on with
One might venture to add a note of
appeal to editors and to those who press
editors for news-the public. Five ma
tons which understand each other very
slightly are striving to get together for
great work Of humanity Their diff
hculties are innumerable If the efforts
OF their delegates seem slow and II the
wits Of their delegates with reference to
newspaper men seem slower still-be
forbearing.