Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-30

may avoid increased TAXATION OF the
pcople IN these tines
He did not. however. specify what
part OF parts Of GARDENERS statement
he considered untruth& ard distor-
tons Of fact -
Here are some Of the assertions made
IN the Navy League pamphlet.
The President was charged with ex-
hibiting an "abysnnai ignorance Of Why
navieM are maintained and OF how
they are used to accomplish their ma
tor mission"
Secret Agreements Charged.
A proposal by him 10 immunize sea
borne food supplies during time of war
was attacked as making for bigger and
bloodier wars"
The President and Ramsay MacDon-
aid, British prime minister. during their
conversations In 1920 were IAId 10 have
ofnciany been divulsed in their en-
The administration was seen as pos
sibly inspiring the plan Of Foreign
Minister Grandi OF italy for one
year armament holiday.
Acceptance Of the Grand proposal, It
was said would widen the ratio of the
American, British and japanese fleets
to I0o-i47-il9, as against London
treaty proportions OF l01-io.2-6.s.
The Navy League declared its PAM
phiet was necessary 10 "a real appre-
citation Of the impelling motives back
OF President Hoover's efforts at every
turn to restrict. to reduce and 90 starve
the United States Navy-under the
present plea OF budget limitation. on
which we may have further cause to
comment"
In answering the League Of Nations
invitation to participate in the arma-
ments holiday. State Department off,
Gals said the actual text of the message
was short. In itself this was taken to
mean that the United States accept
ance was not hemmed about with ex-
ceptions and reservations.
Of1cials indicated the holiday would
not apply 10 vessels now under con-
struction, but only additional arma-
ment. The League plan would become
effective Sunday.
To Demonstrate Fallacies.
Before definite commitments are
made. however, each nation will be ac-
quainted with the measure OF agree
ment which has been reached as to
exact extent of the holiday.
Referring to this proposal, the Navy
Leagues pamphlet contended IL would
enhance British and japanese inter-
ests to the prejudice of analogous" in
terests of the United States, although
the responsibility Of the President is
primarily to and for the United States :"
The Presidents reply said the COM
mittee to be appointed would sit as an
agency before which various arms of
the Government could demonstrate fall
lacies in the Navy Leagues claims.
Text Of Statement.
The text of the Presidents statement
follows:
"The Navy League states in its an
nouncements that it has for a quarter
o. century specialized in accurate in
formation as to Navy matters and the
principal activity Of the league is to
disseminate facts bearing on Navy mat
tiers to the press.
In order that the country may know
the untruth and distortions of fact in
Chairman GARDENERS recent pronounce
ment I will appoint committee, includ-
ing members of the Navy League, TO
whom agencies of the Government will
demonstrate these untruths and dis
tortions of fact. Such an inquiry will
absolve the members of the league who
have not participated in this statement
Upon its completion I shall expect MI
Gardiner to make public correction
OF his misstatements and an apology
therefor.
1T is desirable for the public to know
the character of this indirect campaign
of misinformation to defeat the efforts
OF the high officials of the Navy De-
partment and the administration forl
reduction of Federal expenditure not
Immediately essential in order that we
may avoid increased taxation OF the
people in these times"
In Difficulties Before.
This is not the first time the Navy
League has been in conflict With al
ministration policies,
It was recalled today that during
President Wilson's term, before the dec
laration of war against Germany, rep
resentatives of the lSague were barred
from all naval ships and stations by
order of Secretary of the Navy Daniels
Daniels order was the elimination OF
a feud which developed between the
league and President Wilson over the
latter'S efforts to avoid entering the
World War. The league had carried on
a determined campaign for prepared
ness" and when an official OF the
league issued a particularly vitriolic
statement, the Navy Secretary issued
his ban.
Condemned in House.
One of the first acts of Secretary
DENLY when he succeeded Daniels as
Navy chief was to lift the ban on the
| league.
More recently, the league was con-
demned on the floor of the House of
Representative last February by Repre-
scntatives Burton l.. French of Idaho.
chairman of the subcommittee on naval
appropriations. In response to French's
charges that the league was motivated
by selfish interests" Howe issued an
open letter of denial, in which it was
stated that all members of the league
are civilians having no connection with
the Navy. except that there were a few
retired naval officers on the rolls. Howe
also denied inSinuations that armament
interests" were backing the league in
its fight for a bigger and better Navy
Two miles Of traffic was held up for
three hours at Hockliffe, England. when
go 81 lN,,ry rd nn,1id