Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-15

Comment on the statement by Presi-
dent Hoover on the departure Of the
American delegation to the London Naval
Conference reveals the fact that many
believe 1t will stand ct the head Of all
such efforts In history. The wise
choice Of delegates Is q subject Of trib-
ute, the completely Of the problem Is
universally recognised. and the effect
Of all peace endeavor on world psy-
chology is made q major feature OF
the arguments.
Prom the common sense viewpoint"
says the Pittsburgh Post-Gasette, 1.-The
only excuse for the assembling Of the
conference Is to reduce warcraft pro-
grams. There Is every reason to be-
1ieve that the ground Is better pre-
pared than ever before for attainment
Of that object" The st. Louis Post
Dispatch sees Importance in the fact
that the conference gets the world,
with all its fears and suspicious, its
dreams and its aspirations. around the
relationship" continues this paper,
"can trust conquer diStrlSt, as within
that limited circle alone can wisdom
at last dispossesS folly. Mr. Hoover says
the nations participating have the will
to bring about an end to composition
in construction Of naval arms and so
lessen the burden of these great arrna-
ments upon themselves. II they per-
sist In that will, they cannot disap-
point him. however great the difficulty
and however tedious the way"
" y "
This conference, in the opinion Of
the Dayton Daily News, "is where we
get down to brass tacks," and where
talk Of a peaceful world takes form in
fact or evaporateS as the vaporings of
vast hypocrisy" The Kansas City
Times concludes as to the probable
naval limitation results: Great Britain
Is likely to determine the minimum, but
the hope Is that the minimum will mean
reasonable limitation and perhaps re-
duction. Whatever 1t Is, nobody who
has followed Mr.. Hoover's policy in this
matter will be afraid the American dele
cation will consent to and the Senate
approve any splan that will keep the
United States in relatively weak posi-
ton"
Emphasizing the Importance of France,
the Birmingham News states: French
statesmen sincerely believe that the
navy should be stronger than it is.
when they reflect that their country
has vast colonial empire. recently in
creased by the addition Of Syria This
empire France Is resolved to defend as
dauntleSsly as she would defend Alsace-
Lorraine. Her entire history teaches
her that not to be prepared to defend
her territory, whether inside or outside
her natural frontiers, Is suicidal In that
1t courts the risk Of war abroad and
invites civil insprrection at home.
France should not be coddled
at London, but France should be treated
there In the light Of difficulties age
long In their persistence and never
quite so perturbing to French states
men and the French people IS these
dimculties are nowadays. =" Amer
lea and France have for more than
$50 years sympathized with one an
other In their difnculties and dis
couragements. There is no reason why
this considerate understanding between
France and America should not be
manifest at the London conference.
France must not be per-
mitted 1T will to defeat the great eff.
fort toward disarmament and world
peace"
eft 10 not possible the ideal VIII be
reached" according to the Columbus
Ohio State Journal, "but any major
movement toward It has interest for
the whole world; any emphatic agree
ment on methods for continuing peace
win build barriers against future trou-
bleS." Because Of the complexity of
the task, the Manchester Union Is con-
WINGED that mo one can venture to
predict what the result viii be-" but
adds that mo one need doubt that the
American delegates realize fully the