The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-10-30
HOOVER, IRKED,
ORDERS NAVY
LEAGUE QUIZ
Insists on Inquiry to Show
Organization Is Guilty of
FaISehoodS.
STlMS0N Is ANGERED
Vicious Attack by Groups
Leader StirS Wrath
of President.
STINSoN is ANGERED
BY PAUL r. MALLON
United Press stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, oct. 30.-State
Secretary Henry L. Stimson today
joined President Hoover in the ad-
ministrations offensive against the
Navy League.
He termed the leagues charges of
sinister secrecy in connection with
the London naval conference as
fragrant m1sstatements, evidently
deliberate"
The President Thursday night an
nounced he would name a commit
tee to investigate and give the pub
Tic the truth about the naval stu
alton. He had been angered by the
Navy Leagues charge that he
showed "abysmal ignorance" of
naval affairs.
The President said he would de-
mand an apology from William
Howard Gardiner, president of the
league.
Stimson declared the statement
that Mr.. Hoover and Premier Mac
Donald concluded agreements at
their Rapidan conference, which
never have been revealed, was en-
tirely false. He said even an i'm
perfectly informed person should
know that.
Branded as Inaccurate
He also branded as inaccurate the
leagues statement that the senate
was denied access to certain diplo-
matte papers exchanged during the
arms conference negotiations. He
said all diplomatic papers were
turned over to Senator Davir Reed
Fep., Pa), and that Reed was au-
thorized to show them to all Sena-
tors who would promise not to re-
veal their contents for publication.
He said he had only read the first
page of the navy leagues statement,
but found at least two outstanding
errors regarding the Hoover-M Mac
Donald conversations and the al
legged secrecy of diplomatic ex-
changes.
Purpose Of the inquiry" Theo-
dore Joslin, secretary to the Presi-
dent, said today, lis first to call at
tention Of the country and the
members Of the league to the tissue
of falsehoods spread by Mr.. Gardi-
ner.
Second, the intention is to show
the true purpose of these false
hoods and the people who are in
terested in propagandizing them"
Navy League Prepares
The White House gave out no in
formation as to the size of the trial
board, its personnel or as to how
soon it would begin to function.
The Navy League prepared at the
same time to go into action. Gard
liner sent out a call for meeting
of the executive committee to be
held in Washington las soon as is
convenient to members" for the
purpose of discussing the Presidents
announcement.
The statement which aroused
Hoover's ire, charged:
That Mr.. Hoover'S proposal for
immunity for foodstuffs in war
time showed "abySmal ignorance"
of the functions of a navy, and
that policy would result in big
ger and bloodier wars"
That as "a gesture of friendship"
the President postponed construc-
ton of five cruisers before the Lon
don naval conference of 1880.
Starvation Attempt Charged
That he sacrificed at London
what President Coolidge refused to
conce,ie at Geneva in 1927-a pre-
ponderance of large-gun cruisers.
That he was ready to halt con-
struction of $1,000 tons of cruisers
and other craft in anticipation of
a one-year naval holiday, while in
sisting upon construction Of five
destroyers "as part of a program
for unemployment relief"
That at every turn he has sought
"to restrict, reduce and to starve"
the navy in the name of budgetary
reform.
That the President knew that to
enter a one-year naval holiday
would place this country behind
Great Britain and Japan in auxili-
airy craft, the navy league having
supplied such information.
That his entire program from five
months after he took Office until
now demonstrates that he is will
ing to sacrifice the navy to his for
eign policy, and to further pro-
posais for world arms reduction.
That. despite his "fondness fol
fact-hnding commissions, he failed
to study adequately the navys
needs.
President Former Chemist
The Navy League terms itself ar
organization of civilians that "spe.
cializes on accurate information a;
to naval matters"
Gardiner, its president, is 6
former chemist, electrical and trac-
ton engineer, and a former aSSo.
ciate of Henry L. Doherty, utili.
ties magnate. Walter Bruce Howe
a washington lawyer, is chairman
of the board. presidents are
Mrs. James Carroll Frazer, Wash.
ington; Arthur CurtiSs James, New
York, and Ogden Mills Reid, New
York
Nelson Macy of New York is vice.
president and treasurer, Dwight N
Burnham Of Washington. assistant
treasurer, and William M. Galvir
of washington, executive secretary