Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-19

that will smooth the troubled waters
Of world naval problems.
Secretary of State StimSon spent an
other busy day and faces an equally
busy one tomorrow AT noon he led
the entire American delegation to
Downing street to pay its formal re-
spects to the chiefs of the British mis-
sion The conversation lasted an hour,
and its results were not announced.
This afternoon Mr.. Stimson retreated
to a country estate north of London
that he has rented for his stay in Eng
land. He win be host there tomorrow
at luncheon for Foreign Minister
Grandi and the Italian delegation be-
fore returning to London to confer with
Premier Tardieu and Foreign Minister
BRAND at the French embassy late in
the afternoon.
Too Busy for Golf.
MIR. Stimson brought his golf clubs
to England, but With conference with
the American experts i'll the morning,
an official lunch and more conferences
in the afternoon. he must rise very
early If he wants to get III round
Of play on the private nine-hole course
at Stanmore.
The headquarters of the American
delegation were operating with COM
plete efficiency today. Stalwart Marines
posted In the hotel attend to the wants
of the numerous callers, take their
cards and conduct them into the vari-
Gus oftices.
The II American girl secretaries con-
tinue to be a center of attention in
London Their photographs in groups
have appeared more often and more
conspicuously in the London newspapers
than those Of the delegates themselves.
With preliminary negotiations well
under way in London. the broad aspects
Of the conference program can be listed
as Anglo American problems. BritaiRs
position with relation to continental
fleets. Franco Italian difficulties and
Japap's insistence Oh increased ratio
in sea power with relation 10 Britain
and fine United States.
Parity is United States Basis.
The basic point Of the position OF
the American delegation is Anglo
American parity. Though Mr. Stimson
is known to have cleared away some Of
the difficulties from the Anglo-Ameri-
can Situation since his arrival, par
ticularly with reference to battleships,
it appears to be certain the solution of
the problem how the American fleet
Is to be brought to equality with
Britain's will engage the delegates and
experts for many hours of dificult study
and negotiations.
Mindful of President Hoover's anxiety
that Anglo American parity be so real
and convincing that American public
opinion will accept the decision Of the
conference with confidence, Senator
Reid and Senator Robinson probably
will remain in close touch with the Sen
ate at Washington and proceed fully
advised as to the sort of parity agree
f1ent the Senate would approve.
The application of the doctrine of an
American Navy second to none which
has been repeatedly sanctioned by Con-
gress in one form or another. looms up
as one of the greatest problems. The
Solution must be one in which neither
Britain nor America can afterward say
they have had the worst Of the bar
gain.
Unaware Of Obstacles.
The French, italian or japanese OBJ
servers who fear the establishment of
an Anglo American alliance at London
seem to be unaware OF the obstacles in
its path.
AS at Geneva, the Americans are pre-
pairing to assert again their determine
tton to retain cruisers large enough to
operate between the widely spaced
American naval bases. and though the
Hoover Macdonald negotiations have
brought the two powers much nearer on
this subject since the fiasco at Geneva
in 1927, the final closing Of the breach
remains to be settled here.