Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-10-23
Premier and President Hope
for Tangible Results Before
Visitor Leaves White House
Tomorrow for WoodIey.
CONFERENCE WITH B0RAH
ARRANGED BY REQUEST
War Debts Payments, Monetary
Gold Supply of World and Limi-
tstion of Armaments Seen First
Topics to Be Taken Up in In
formal Conversations.
BY G. GOULD LINCOLN.

President Hoover and Premier
Pierre Laval of France this after
noon begin their conferences over
the problems that vitality affect
the countries of both and the
world.
Premier Laval already has in
Dictated that he expects his con-
versations with the President to
cover a wide range. 1t is expected
that such subjects as the pay
ment of war debts, now suspended
for a year; the distribution of the
monetary gold supply of the
world, and limitation of arma-
nentS will be reviewed by the
heads of the two governments.
Lingering in the background o.
all the subjects discussed it is be-
1ieved will be an earnest desire
on the part of the French premier
to see that France has that Sc
curity from attack which has
been the demand of the leaders
of that country since the close OF
the World War. Conditional upon
that measure Of security rests the
solution of the disarmament
problem. Whether the heads of
the two governments will be able
to adopt a formula or reach any
agreement that seems to MT the
situation is still unknown. In
certain quarters in this country
there has been increasing talk OF
a consultative pact" as possible
substitute for a security pact"
as between France and the United
States. But there is no assurance
that such pact would be accept
able to the French, who are look
ing for security, or to America
which may regard a consultative
pact as merely another form OF
alliance.
White House Guest Tonight.
There. is much which may be &C
complished during the visit OF M. Laval,
however, in connection with the prob
lens Of intergovernmental debts ana
the distribution OF the gold supply:
vi.
Josee Laval, will enter the White House
this afternoon to become the house
guests of the President and Mrs.
Hoever. 1t is the hope of both M.
Laval and the President that great
deal will have been accomplished by
the time the Prime Minister leaves the
White House tomorrow to become the
house guest of Secretary Of State Slim
son at Woodley.
Only Five at Dinner.
There will be but five at the Presi-
dents informal dinner tonight. In ad-
dition to the President, there will be
Premier Laval, Secretary Stimson OF
the State Department. Undersecretary
of the Treasury Ogden Mills and a
Frenchman, to be determined upon, who
will act as interpreter for M. Laval.
Secretary Stimson and Mr.. Mills both
speak French fluently and will inter-
pref for the President.
At the State Department today 1t
was said that the conversation between
the heads of the United States and
French government would be largely Of
an explorative nature, a seeking TO
ascertain what each has in mind. Be-
yond that no statement concerning the
probable drift of the conversation was
obtainable.
The French premier, at his own re-
quest, has arranged for a conference
with Senator William E. Borah, chair.
man of the Senate Foreign Relations
Committee. The conference Is to take
place tomorrow night at the home OF
Secretary Stimson. Both M. Laval and
Senator Borah are to be guests at a
stag dinner given by Mr.. Stimson, and
after dinner they will retire to room
by themselves with their interpreters
and endeavor to thresh out the prob
lens which enter into the relations be-
tween France and the United States.
The suggestion has been made in we'll
informed quarters that with regard to
some of these problems the French
premier and the chairman Of the Sen
ate Foreign Relations Committee are
not 50 far apart as 1t has been made to
appear. However, Senator Borah Is
adamant in his opposition to a security
pact and he has regarded in the past
consultative pact as merely another
name for security pact.
Arranged Last Night.
The arrangements for the conference
between M. Laval and Senator Borah
we're made at the White House dinner
last night. M. Laval stopped IN the
line when he reached Senator Borah
and told him, through an interpreter,
that he was particularly DESTROYS Of
having a private talk with him. The
matter was preached to Secretary
Stimson, who Immediately placed his
study at the disposal Of the two men
for tomorrow night.
Premier Laval's first visit today was
to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
in Arlington, where he laid wreath
in honor of the men who died fghtng
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