The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1931-09-17
NAVAL HOLIDAY
wins FAVOR OF
HOOVER REGIME
BOrah'S Proposed 5-Year
Truce Would Advance
Disarmament, View.
ECONOMIC RELIEF SEEN
Extending London Treaty
Program Would Set Plan
in Motion.
BY RAY TUCKER
Times stan Correspondent

WASHINGTON, Sept. 1.-THE
five-year naval holiday proposed by
Senator William E. Borah would be
great advance along the path of
general disarmament, according to
statements OF high officials of the
Hoover administration today.
1t has been learned that the state
department is making study of his
proposals as well as the suggestion
of Dino Grand, Italian foreign min
lister, for q one-year naval truce.
Although pointing out that nei-
Their Borah nor Grandi has fur
nished any detailed program as the
basis of a definite move in the di-
rection of more drastic disarmament
than was attained at the London
1890 conference. it was intimated
the United States would be recep-
tive to any formal proposal from
other nations involved.
The administration virtually told
the world it is willing to go along
in a holiday designed to improve
conditions all around.
Three Advantages Cited
The success of any plan for a ces-
sation of construction, it was point
ed out, would be helpful in three
ways. 1t would permit the Geneva
gathering to meet next February in
an atmosphere more favorable to
solution of political difficulties
which lie across the path Of world
peace and disarmament.
It would distract the minds of
delegates of Geneva from the UNI
happy noises of munitions shops
and dockyards. 1t would provide
great economic relief to nations
now suffering under armament bur-
dens totaling $4,138,000,0O0 a year.
1t would, if successful, save sign
atorieS of the London treaty
Great Britain, United States and
Japan-more than $4,000, 100000 in
building up to the London stand
ard.
Plan Easy to Start
Far from agreeing with criticism
of the Borah plan that there is not
enough time to formulate definite
program before the Geneva confer
ence, official spokesman pointed out
the mechanism for holiday would
be comparatively easy tc set in mo-
ton.
1t would require, in the opinion
of officials, nothing more than a
five-year delay, or spread, in the
operation of the London treaty pro-
gram. Instead of reaching parity
with Great Britain by 1886, our navy
would remain slightly inferior until
1941.
In fact, officials answered the
criticism of Senator David A. Reed
(Rep., Pa, delegate to the Lon
don conference, with the statement
that holiday would not place the
United States in relatively worse
position than it is in now. The
fleet is better balanced as result
of new construction since 1929, in
the official view, and there would
be no threat to this nation if the
other powers agreed to call of all
new construction.
Gives Cue to Europe
Borah's appeal, together with
economic conditions in this and
other countries obviously has given
force to the administrations ex-
pressed desire for further disarma-
ment. The willingness to make
public it's favorable attitude toward
the Borah program is taken to be
a cue to European nations as to
the part this country will play if
they show the way.
1t is known that President Hoo
yer and Secretary Stimson have
discussed both the Borah proposal
and the steps which might be taken
to put it into effect.
The administration, as a result
of Stimson's reports following his
recent European trip, thinks Europe
first must settle some of the dis
agreements which have prevented
the complete success of previous
conferences. 1t is, therefore, some
what cautious in stepping out bold
ly as the international bell wether
at this time.