Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-07
ST|MSON GREETED
WITH SAT|SF ACTION
Statement Is Seen as Coming
in Time to Buoy Spirits
of Delegations.
BY FREDERIC WILLIAM VILE.
ersK Correspondent Of The star.

etaK Correspondent Of The star.
BY Radio to The Star.
LONDON, February A. Site Ameri-
can delegation has seized the initiative
al the Five-power Naval Conference and
has speeded it on its way to accom-
plishment, as The Star correspondent
was enabled to prophesy Monday. And
1t would be impossible to exaggerate the
profound satisfaction that Secretary CS
State Stimsons statement has aroused
in London.
1t came in the nick of time. to pre-
vent many conference authorities, IN
GLIDING the delegations themselves, from
concluding that matters were drifting al
most hopeleSsly. The qualification over
Americas concrete proposition Is espe-
cially strong in the British quarters.
Comment on Secretary StlmsonS
statement is not general yet. because IL
was issued too late last night to enable
the London editorial writers to tackle It,
But, the early opinion in such regions
as the Times and on the part OF the
we'll known but not particularly pro-
American naval expert, Hector 9. By
water, is altogether favorable.
Times Welcomes Proposal.
The Times strikes the note that is
almost certain to be the widespread
view when it says: "Details VIII require
careful examination and perhaps some
readiustment, but the statement seems,
at first sight, to offer a basis acceptable
tn both America and Britain. AT all
events. no time need be lost in giving
it a welcome, both for its own candid
merits and because 1t promises 70 give
a much needed impulse to the work OF
the conference
Secretary Stimson's statement was
forthcoming under highly dramatic CHI
cumstances. Only an lnltlateo lew wee
aware that it was imminent. Selmson
and the other heads of the delegations
were in conference late in the afternoon,
but nobody suspected they were en-
gagged in anything more momentous
than further consideration OF tecnnl-
Suddenly. Michael McDer7nuut, chief
of Secretary Stimsons press section,
sent out all alarm to American cor
respondents, summoning them to meet
the Secretary of State at st. James
Palace to receive an important mes
sage"
Effect Is EIectrifying.
Secretary Stimson appeared in eve
ming dress en- route to dinner engage
ment with officers Of the Scots Guards.
he read them the full text of the Ameri-
can offer to Britain and Japan.
The effect was electrfying. All real
ized that America at last had given
the conference the species of leadership
that it hitherto has lacked. The confer
ence now has something to shoot at
and get its teeth into.
The japanese haven't yet expressed
themselves about the offer, but The
CfaY 1OVrneFANYdnV1f haS Tn
believe Tokio's approval will not be with
held. The Japanese congressional cleo
tons are impending and the government
must watch its step before asserting to
anything at London that might SAVIOR OF
surrender.
Stimson's cautious words in reference |
10 Japan mean that America has offered |
not disturb the existing los ratio in
large ships. including the 10,000-ton
cruisers, but would assign them nearly
1917 or 1877 in other vessels.
Franco Italian Pact Is Joker"
The "jokeri IN the American propo-
sition is Stin1son's plain reminder that
Italian French problem. BY this, he |
means that until Britain knows how
many cruisers the French and Italians |
are going to build, she cannot bind her |
self to either big or small cruiser ton !
mage, on which America and Britain |
otherwise agree readily.
France at present is stiff-necked in |
opposition to Italyis demand for parity. |
The Partisan statesmen at the confer
ence say that any government which
accepted such parity would be turned
out Of Office by 500 votes in the Cham
Der Of Deputies. France declares she
can only be induced to reduce her pres
ent big navy law in return for security
guarantees. Nobody in London believes
she can get them, either here of here
after.
Three-Power Treaty May Result.
This strongly conjures up the posi-
bility that out of the London Confer
ence only a three-power treaty may
emerge. America, Britain and Japan
may find it necessary to agree among
themselves as to the limit of reduction
OF their fleets on commonly satisfactory
lines. coupled with the proviso that any
one of them, in the case of need, might |
build beyond these provisions. Other
parties TO the agreement would, of |
course, have the same right.
This possibility is in the minds of !
the French and Italian delegations.
They will have to consider seriously
whether any obstructive game at Lon
Uncle Sans cards are on the table
1t will not be the fault Of Secretary |
Stimson and his colleagues if play
doesn't proceed rapidly to a successful |
conclusion.
Copyright 1902
TACT nFNR