Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-03

Continued From First Page)
throughout the world as third-rate naval
powers compared with America, Great
Britain and Japan.
If one suggestion strongly supported
within the American delegation is adopt
ed there will be a bread general state
ment to the effect that no country's
right to build feet as big as it desires
is abrogated. Then would follow, as a
possible portion of the same preamble,
the statement that while the agreement
infringes no country's sovereignty, the
five high contracting powers resolve, in
the interest Of peace, security and econ
omy to bind themselves to limit ship
building for five years.
At the end of that time they shall
reconvene to confront the existing naval
situation of the world in the light of
both technical and political conditions.
The sovereignty clause would be a ges-
ture designed to appease the Italians in
particular. Mussolini today asks only
the privilege of building an unlimited
navy. He does not really intend to ex-
ercise that right at this time, but he
does not intend to tie Italy's hands in
an indefinite future.
The French are not expected to stand
out against this hypothetical parity"
1t goes without saving that the
American views will not be submitted
either without reasonable assurance
they Will form the basis of promising
discussion or without careful advance
sounding Of sentiment.
Leadership Held Incumbent Upon u. 8.
On the contrary, the American propo-
sition represents the composite fruits of
two weeks of conversations with the
other delegations. It also is apparent
that the initiative the United States is
on the eve of taking springs from a
realization on the part OF Secretary
Stimson that such leadership is incunn-
bent upon the Americans. Great Britain
formally convened the conference. but
not until Premier Macdonald conferred
with President Hoover in Washington.
Premier Macdonald never would have
gone to Washington except at President
Hoovers invitation. The conference.
therefore. while the physical child of
the Brltlsh government, is regarded in
London as the spiritual offspring of the
american Government. This undoubt-
edly Is the psychology of the impetus
the American delegation hopes to give
the conference. 1t does not come as a
surprise to any one who grasped the
significance of Secretary Stimson's
SSPSAAih6 10 JIle HOUSE OF
LORDS on January 81 when he an
nounced readiness to camp out in
London until success had been achieved.
Tomorrow's fourth plenary session
Will be devoted TO what is hoped will
be hnal discussion on the COM
promise agreement on tonnage limita-
ton by categories. If American hopes
are not blasted by eleventh-hour de-
velopments the delegation will come
forward with its proposition not later
than the fifth or sixth plenary sitting.
One thing Is certain--the plan is
filled sufficiently with powerful ex-
plosive to dynamite the conference into
a species Of action hitherto not wit
messed. 1t needs to be clearly stated
that the Americans have nothing in
mind remotely savoring of an ulti-
natum. Their sole purpose is to swing
the conference down the road leading
to concrete results without unnecessary
beating around the bush.
tCopyright, 1901