Imperial Valley press., 1931-07-08
.ST|MS0N
VISIT IS
WATCHED
United Press Head States
Secretary's Presence In
Europe Significant.
TO MEET lie ADERS
Program For World Dis
armament Seen AS Re-
suit Of Debt Accord.
BY ROBERT J. BENDER
Vice President and General News
Manager, United Press

Manager, United Press
Copyright, 1881, by United Press)
NAPLES, Italy, July 9. UP)-The
next unfinished business before the
world is disarmament with debts
disposed of, at least temporarily.
The solution of the Franco-Ital-
be found before the opening of the
world disarmament conference In
February.
For that reason, the visit of
Secretary Stimson to Italy takes on
fresh significance.
At the February conference, his
tory may be written in a genuine
move to reduce expenditures of the
nation on arms, which President
Hoover regards as one of the most
vital steps toward solution of the
worlds economic trouble
While Secretary Stimson does not
plan to attend the February con-
ference, newspapers, politicians and
laymen foreSee the inevitability of
his participation in a helpful ex-
change of views at elis critical time,
when his arrival is especially pro-
pitious in view of the debt mora
torium accord just reached in Paris.
The presence of two outstanding
members of President Hoover's
cabinet in Europe at the same time
reflects the tremendous concern of
the United States government in
world conditions.
Mo11nfa hos
pleted the delicate task of putting
through the Hoover plan. With
Stimson's arrival, the press, public
and politicians of Europe wonder
what is forthcoming during and
after Stimson's conversations with
leading government officials here, If
anything.
Secretary Stimson has said re-
peatedly that his mission is not
political, but merely an occasion for
renewing acquaintances with old
friends who occupy posts in Europe
similar to his in the United States.
He is well acquainted with Dino
Grandi, the Italian foreign minis
ter; Aristide BRAND, Arthur Hen
derson, and Premier j. Ramsay
Macdonald. He never has met the
German ministers, but will do so
on this visit.
He has said he wishes to talk over
common problems with all those
friends.
Germans Expected
Visualizing Secretary Stimson
handling the French and Italian
naval accord, which is too hot for
BRAND to dispose of because of the
domestic political situation would,
of course, require a stretching of
the imagination. Whether it is sig
nificant. it should be recalled that
Chancellor Heinrich Bruening and
Foreign Minister Julius Curtius of
Germany expect to come to Rome
after Secretary Stimson has visited
Rome, Paris and Berlin
1t also should be kept in mind
that disarmament is a problem
complicated by the domestic politi-
cal situation III all countries in
volved except Italy, where Mussolini
is not handicapped by such oppo-
sition.
The American congress is about
equally divided and Mr.. Hoover is
facing the presidential election next
year.
The French parliament is so con-
stituted as TO be subject to an ex-
plosion at any time.
The German situation admittedly
has been extremely dangerous.
Great Britain's political pulse ad-
mittedly has been subject TO irreg-
ularity.
In view Of such a situation, there
is little likelihood of any startling
news pronouneements of plans or
authorized looks behind the scenes.
which must remain only pure con-
lecture before February.
American statesmen have indicat-
ed that this may be one of the most
critical years world statesmen have
had to tread, and hence, they cer-
tainly will tread carefully.