Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-12
Signor Grandi's Visit.

No doubt any longer exists that all
roads this season are leading to WASH
ington-and not to Rome, whence halls
the latest international parsonage to
bulletin his approaching arrival in the
United States. Signor Dino Grandi,
foreign minister of Italy, has accepted
Secretary StimSon's invitation to visit
Washington. He will sail from Naples
on November and spend ten days here,
discussing with President Hoover and
other high officials of the Government
the world issues now clamoring for So
luton. The presence Of Premier Mus
solini, the State Department announces,
would have been extremely gratifying,
but II Duce Is unable to come. His
accomplished young spokesman will be
cordially received.
Following close on the heels of Pre-
mier Lavars sojourn on the Potomac
and the Rapidan. the Importance Of
Signor Grandi's trip to this country
can hardly be overestimated. A firm
believer in the efficacy of personal con-
facts and conference as the best means
Of removing misunderstanding. President
Hoover has seized a wise initiative in
bidding the French and italian states
men to these heart-to-heart confabu-
lations on American soil. 1t Is impos-
sible that practical good should fail to
flow from them. Equally inconceivable
Grandi would detach himself from the
grave preoccupations absorbing Euro
pean craftsmanship at this hour If each
was not convinced that concrete bene-
fits are obtainable from intimate con-
sultation with the leaders Of the United
States Government.
America and the world will not be
mistaken in concluding that disarma-
ment is the theme song which will
permeate President Hoover's inter-
changes with the distinguished guests
from Paris and Rome. Other burning
issues-reparations and intergovern-
mental debts-will, 1t goes without say
ing, be discussed. The question of
extending the one-year moratorium will
be brought up. But Mr.. Hoover avoids
hardly any opportunity of linking all
these questions, jointly and severally,
with his underlying program for bring
ing about substantial reduction Of
ornaments. France and Italy were
unable to bury the naval Ratchet at
the London Conference of 1880. Their
irreconcilable views on parity required
Great Britain, Japan and the United
States to content themselves with a
three-power Limitation agreement. AS
long as Franco-Italian sea rivalry
is undated the heavens of dis
armament will remain clouded. Presi-
dent Hoover faces a unique opportunity
to harmonic the French and italian
viewpoints.
In passing, the moment is not in
appropriate to remind the peace-loving
American pupiic that President Hoover
at no time has advocated that total
disarmament" for which a group of
well meaning American women, meeting
in Washington yesterday, raised an
earnest plea. The disarmament Mr..
Hoover seeks to bring about by inter-
national agreement is only the reduc-
ton of military and naval establish
ments to a point commensurate with
national safety. The United States is
ready to go as far in that direction as
any other country. But the time has
not yet comet is unquestionably afar
off-when 1t would be prudent for us,
or any other nation with vast interests
to safeguard, to scrap all our ships and
throw away all our guns.