Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-09
Ceremonial Departure Lack
ing as American Group
Starts for London.
SHIPBOARD CONFERENCES
TO SPEED UP PROGRAM
Stimson Prescribes Hard Work as
Remedy for Difficulties
to Be Encountered,
BY the Associated Press.

oS INC hShOtldteu fTeSS.
An American diplomatic mission ex-
traordinary turned toward London to-
day to make one more determined try
to end the competitive building of
navies.
On January 81 they will assemble at
the British capital with representatives
Of Great Britain, France and italy for
. conference expected by the whole
world to write a conspicuous chapter,
OF one kind or another, in international
history.
Despite the far-reaching possibilities
which hover about their pilgrimage, no
ceremonial leave-taking heralded the
departure of the conference bound off,
cial party today. President Hoover all
ready had hidden his representatives
Godspeed on Tuesday at White House
breakfast. Secretary of State Stimson,
head of the delegation, had gone on
before to have a few hours at his home
in New York before sailing.
Few Witness Departure.
His colleagues of the commission, in
Guiding Secretary Adams, Ambassador
W OWlkHG w. MOTTOW, OSHdIOI
David A. Reed, Republican, of Penhsyl.
vania, and Senator Joseph T. Robinson,
Democrat, of Arkansas, completed their
private arrangements for the voyage on
the steamship George Washington of
the United States Lines during the past
week. The remaining delegates, Ambas-
sador Charles G. Dawes and Ambassa-
dor Hugh s.. Gibson, will join the
American contingent in London.
OY1lv handful 0f the residents NJ
the Capital City gathered to witness
the departure of the special train en-
gagged for the remainder of the oficial
party, with its troupe of clerks and ad-
visers, in its first stage. The trip Lon
downward was planned to At hurried
schedule. in vivid contrast with the de-
liberate pace which the naval con-
ference itself is expected TO travel.
The train was given a special fast
schedule to Jersey City. where motors
had been ordered in readiness to rush
the entire party to the steamer ut her
pier in Hcboken. Already held up be-
yond her sailing time. the ship was
ready to put out to sea by midafternoon,
as soon as Secretary Stinson and the
other delegates had joined their col
leagues and all were safely on board.
Wilson Used Same Boat.
Once before the George Washington
filled thrilling role in the drama of
American diplomacy. 1t was aboard
this same vessel that President Wilson
sailed for France in 1918 to negotiate
the treaty of Versailles. To-day the ship
was packed to capacity. her regular
passenger list rearranged radically TO
accommodate the offcial party, totaling
about 100, including the wives of sew
eral members. Besides the two delegates
who will meet the commission in Lon
don there are number Of State De-
partment officials and members of the
American foreign service in London and
on the Continent of Europe who will be
attached to the delegation or assist in
its labors.
Ahead of the delegates and their adj
ViSerS during the trip is series OF con-
ferences on shipboard. The Secretary
brought the arrangements for the trip
to a close last week, but there are still
a large number of details to be gone
over by the delegates before the vessel
docks in Plymouth, where she is sched-
uled to arrive january IT. Much work
wa; accomplished by the Secretary and
his colleagues in a series of converse
lions held at the State Department dur
ing the past three or four weeks, Mr..
Stimson having adopted the prescrip-
ton of hard work for the difficulties
which will be encountered at the con-
ference.
The special train carrying Secretary
Adams and the naval and technical adj
visers and attaches left Washington to-
day at am. for Hoboken. where the
party will board the steamship George
Washington.
The special running over the Penn
sylvania Railroad. was made up of nine
coaches including a private car. which
was used by the naval Secretary.
Scheduled to make only one stop, the
train was due to reach Hoboken at 30
pm. half an hour before the George
Washington was to sail for Southamp-
ton.