Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-28
NAVAL DISCUSSION
T BY ST|MSON SEEN
Well Informed Circles Expect
Move to End Rome-Par
Seaport Deadlock.

& -icl C--Datch to The Star
FAIRS, June 27.-It is expected here
in diplomatic circles that Henry L.
Stimson, American Secretary Of State,
who sailed from New York today for
Naples. will reopen the Franco-Italian
naval problem which for more than
year repeated negotiations have failed
to solve. Certain authorities, usually
we'll informed, anticipate that Mr.
Stimson will utilize his weeks stay in
Rome to exchange ideas with Italian
officials, including Dina Grand, foreign
minister, in the hope that a new start
toward ending the RomeParis seaport
deadlock may be made.
Gibson Will Lend Aid.
If the American Secretary of State
receives any encouragement in Rome in
this direction 1t is believed that upon
reaching Paris about July is he will
find himself in position 20 place the
whole question again before the French
government. One fact which increases
the expectancy that Mr. .Stimson may
intervene in the naval controversy is
based on the known anxiety OF the
washington administration for the sue
ament to be held in Geneva next Feb
rllary and the certainty that the con-
tinued failure of the French and
Italians to solve their naval differences
is one of the stumbling blocks thereto.
1t would be opportune. therefore, it Is
remarked, for Mr.. StimSon to use his
influence, even unoff1cially, to encour-
age both the italians and the French
to launch a new effort at all under
standing. In such an undertaking it
is notable that Ambassador Hugh S.
Gibson, one CT Americas disarmament
experts, has just returned to his post
in Brussels from vacation in the
United States and will be on the
ground to assist Mr.. StimSon in any
naval conversations that may take
place either here or in Rome.
Could Take Ships Over.
Both France and Italy are regarding
each others Shipbuilding programs
with jealousies. 1t is noted here that
while the official Italian building sched-
ule has not expanded. nevertheless a
large number of fighting ships is under
construction in the Italian yards to the
order of the smaller powers. attracted
there by the policy of Premier Benlto
Mucsolini of offering them exceptionally
cheap rates. This means, the French
contend. that the Italians have num-
Der of ships nearing completion which
could be taken over by the Fascist gov
eminent under the terms of the con-
tracts, in the event the necessity for
such course arose.
For their part the French are worried
by the disagreement that has arisen
over the nature of the capital ship
which it is planned to build. When
the matter was before the Chamber of
Deputies last week, although 1,293,-
600 900 francs ($50,685 ,000) we're eSti-
mated as necessary for the new units
voted, the deputies decided to postpone
the proposed 23000-ton capital ship for
further study by the experts. At that
time Joseph Paul Bonour, chairman of
the chambers Foreign Affairs Commit
tee, stressed the thought that building
so large a vessel would be interpreted
in Italy as direct challenge and prob
ably set the pace for a naval ornaments
race, as Italy Is believed to be deter
mined to maintain the parity she claims
with France.
1t seems highly probable to some OBJ
servers that now. while the new French
capital ship is under consideration, the
experts and Mr.. Stimson could take ad-
vantage of the better international at
mosphere brought about by President
Hooyer's move to get the stumbling
block of Franco-Italian relations out
of the way.
tCopyrisht, 1880.
STTMSON tn AIN Mellon