Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-05-05
HOOVER TALK FAILS
TOANSWER c. OF c.
Delegates Hoped President
Would Help Lead World to
Trade Revival.
BY DAVID LAWRENCE.

Delegates to the International Cham
Der of Commerce from all over the
world, who had expected President
Hoover to present q concrete formula
to cure the worldwide depression, were
disappointed IN the speech of the Chief
Executive.
The President avoided any proposal
with reference to the economic Situa-
ton. the tariff or war debts, and con-
fined himself entirely to the problem Of
the reduction of ornaments. While all
the delegates are inclined to agree that
disarmament is CT paramount consid-
Grafton, they do not think all the Ills
of the present crisis can be traced to
political instability or even excessive
taxation.
Hoover Avoids Criticism.
Most all the delegates here are prac-
teal minded business men. interested in
diplomacy end world politics only as it
may contribute to economic stability.
They had hoped that Mr.. Hoover would
strike a note of leadership looking to-
ward a revival of world trade.
There is no doubt that the President
was Just as fully aware as were the
delegates of the kind Of speech the lat
ter would have liked to hear but I'M
fortunately there Is not any agreement
or concensus within the United States
on what should be the foreign economic
policy of this country. Mr.. Hoover,
therefore, could not very well have de-
livered a speech that would have drawn
the fire Of his critics at moment when
the business depression has developed
such q disparity Of views between the
White House and the business world.
ApkA fta ASgfn addPaGG n
julius H. Barnes, chairman of the
board of the Chamber of Commerce of
the United States. reflected the view OF
Mr.. Hoover. While they are close
friends, Mr.. Barnes does not always
speak for the President. In this in
stance, however, it is not inconceivable
that the Barnes address was known to
the White House and that 1t repre-
Sented concretely the attitude OF the
President toward world problems.
Just now Senator Watson of Indiana
has criticized the Barnes speech Sc
verely, so it is apparent what Mr..
Hoover would have had in store II he
had adopted the same course, namely.
analyzing the causes of the world eco
non1ic situation too infinitely.
u. S. View, Asked, Is Lacking.
Disarmament was safe topic for
QECuSSlOH So ldI OOilCotlS POA4ANo
is concerned, and, of course. the Amer
lean Government has been anxious to
do something about it with foreign gov
ernments by crystallizing the public
opinion of the world. Undoubtedly the
Hoover speech will have its effect
abroad and will contribute to the dis
cussion going on now as to future in
ternational conferences and their scope.
The delegates are intensely interested
in the American point Of view on the
economic situation Of the world. They
ask many questions. They talk frankly
about their own problems. But they
still look to the richest and most power
full country in the world for leadership,
and that is why the attendance from
more than 80 countries is so large. This
weeks sessions will have the effect
of diffusing the American viewpoint
throughout the world, but, regrettably,
there is no such thing as an American
viewpoint yet as TO what the world
ought to do about the economic i'll
health that is sapping its productive
power and consuming its vitality.