Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-28
RECALL OF NAVAL
DELEGATES URGED
Mcclellan Tells Senate There
Is No Opportunity for
Reduction.
By the Associated Press.

The recall of the American delega-
ton from the London Naval Arms Con-
| ference was proposed in the Senate to-
day by Senator Mcclellan, Democrat,
Tennessee, who asserted that there was
no opportunity for naval reduction.
The Tennessee Senator insisted that
"in the present state of mind of the
conferees representing the other four
powers it is clear there is no possibility
of disarmament or of reduction of
ornaments, or even a limitation of
ornaments"
McKellar's suggestion started the first
debate in the Senate on the London
Conference since it convened early in
January.
Senator Vandenberg, Republican,
Michigan, replied to the Tennesseean,
saying:
Believes Advice Harmful.
IT sympathize with a great many
things the Senator from Tennessee has
said, but I believe he has given q pre-
mature American pronouncement based
upon inadequate and insufficient infor-
nation. Such contributions Of advice
to our delegates abroad do far more
harm than good"
Continuing, Mcclellan said that 50
far as he could judge, Great Britain,
Japan, France and Italy, instead Of
seeking q reduction Of all armament,
were each laboriously and diligently
seeking to increase their armament, or
to retain naval superiority over U.S."
Great Brfitain's refusal to consider
the Rodney matter, and the high limit
that she sets upon cruiser tonnage and
her unwillingneSS to regard other ma
tons building the kind of cruisers suit
able to other nations needs indicate her
attitude quite fully" he asserted.
ON the other hand, France appar-
emily hopes to attain superiority over
Great Britain on the submarine issue
and manifestly is seeking superiority
over Italy in naval ornaments.
Japan Wants All She Can Get"
"Of course, Japan is holding out for
all she can get. In other words, II
seems to me that our delegates to the
conference are the only ones that are
really seeking q reduction Of limitation
of arms All the others are fighting
for increases or superiority.
"In view of the high limit set by
Great Britain for cruisers, her refusal
either to sink the Rodney or permit
the United States to build one of SIM
liar kind, her published refusal to con-
siders her limit already suggested as be-
tween her and the United States unless
France lessons her demands; in view
of the fact that France is not going
to agree to anything unless the United
States agrees to come to her protec-
ton in the Mediterranean: in view OF
the perfectly apparent desire upon the
part of the other four nations either
to maintain their superiority or to in
crease their naval strength; in view OF
the enormous increase of our own naval
construction provided for in the pro-
posed agreement, it seems to me that
1t is very fortunate that there have
been two changes in the French gov
eminent which will give all the nations
concerned chance to withdraw grace
fully from the, conference.
81 hope President Hoover will advise
our delegates to come home. If we dc
not need a great navy, let us decide
that question ourselves. Later on q
conference may be held which may
bring about real reduction of naval
armament"