Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-03-27
HOOVER DISCUSSES
NEEDS OF ISLANDS
Is Optimistic on Porto Rico,
but Less Hopeful About
Virgin Isles Future.
BY the Associated Press.

BY the Associated Press.
u. s. S. ARIZONA, March 27.-The
Arizona, carrying President Hoover and
his party back to Washington, ran into
cool, bracing weather during the night,
after week spent in the tropics, which
left the faces Of most of the party, in
Guiding President Hoover's, burned to
9 deep red.
The President turned to enjoyment of
a complete rest in the three days which
remain before the battleship reaches
Norfolk and the party goes on to Wash
ington.
Homeward bound amid white-caps,
President Hoover gave his attention to
the problems of Porto Rico and the
Virgin Islands as presented in an al
most bewildering succession OF expert
ences this week.
Optimistic on Porto Rico.
His visits have served to emphasize
tbs essentially economic nature OF many
difficulties WITH the President express
ins confidence Of Porto Rico'S ability TO
deSelop both agriculturally and indus
trially as q self-suStaining unit.
While the administrations policy Will
be directed to aid that end in Porto
Rico. the outlook in the Virgin Islands
is less hopeful on account OF the sharp
decline in ship coaling at st. Thomas.
Discussions aboard the Arizona gave
evidence that the American position can
be little more than guardianship unless
unforeseen factors enable the population
to increase the islands wealth ma
terially.
Mr.. Hoover in a statement commented
lpon the progress the people OF Porto
Rico had made in self-government and
establishment of democratic institu-
lions. 4sIIe said the island was recover
ing from the hurricane, drought and
business depression.
Less Hopeful on Virgin Islands.
The Presidents view of the Virgin
Islands was less hopeful. He said that,
although opinion was divided, they
might have some military value some
time, but that when we paid $25 ,000,-
600 for them we acquired an effective
Door house, comprising 80 per cent Of
the population. The people cannot be
self-supporting either in living or gov
eminent without discovery Of new
methods and resources"
DR.. Ray Lyman Wilbur, Secretary of
the Interior, who is a physician, said
he was impressed by the possibilities of
the Virgin Islands as health resort.
The President remained in his cabin
yesterday during the morning drill, in
which the portside guns were trained
on the destroyer Dupont seven miles
away. No firing was done.
Dimes with Officers.
Mr.. Hoover later laughingly watched
Secretary Lawrence Richey fishing in
the ships wake for dolphin, his spoon
hook jumping through the waves at the
end of 300-foot rope. Capt. Freeman
and the battleships officers invited the
President and his party to a brilliant
dinner on the quarterback. The deck
and a large horseshoe table were deco
rated with gay lanterns and flags. He
obviously enjoyed the occasion.
The complete text of the statement
on Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands
made by President Hoover at a press
conference is as follows:
THE people of Porto Rico have made
maanihcent progress in Self-government
and the establishment of democratic.
institutions The government is ably
conducted by Porto Rican-born citizens
and there are today only three or four
important officials upon the island who
were not born there. / am advised from
every quarter in the island that there
would not be popular vote OF 5 per
cent In favor Of independence.
The people are making progress from