Evening star., 1932-06-23
ARMS SLASH PLAN
GAINING STRENGTH
Progress PIeases Hoover.
Determined Opposition
Was Expected.
BY CONSTANTINE BROWN.

terQay Wlen AIIlpdSSduOl l1uSli 1ioco9i
presented to the assembled delegates OF
the worlds nations the Hoover plan for
ending the deadlock which has existed
at the Geneva Arms Conference almost
since its beginning.
while the French, British and Japa-
nese adopted officially somewhat frigld
attitude toward the Hoover propositlon
the British and French admitted prl-
vately it was the only constructive sug-
gestion brought before the assembly up
to the present time.
The Italians were, in Mr.. GIBSON 5
own words, lust admirable" and sup
ported the Presidents arms cut plan
without any reservation whatsoever:
The Germans were equally unequivocal
in their support, although 1t does not
give them the equality with France, the
Nationalists have been clamoring for.
'NeutraIs' Back Plan.
The. so-called neutrals--that is to say,
those nations which had not partlcl-
pated in the World War-were enthusl-
astic in their support OF the Hoover
arms cut plan.
Naturally. nobody at the White House
or in the State Department expects the
Hoover plan to be adopted without
lengthy bargaining. This is inevitable
in any conference where there are SO
MANY nations represented, with so many
conflicting interests, but on the whole
the reception accorded to Mr.. Hoover's
proposals was much warmer than had
been anticipated by the President HIM
self and his State Department advisers.
There is no doubt prolonged CONVEX
sationS and a careful examination by
the technical experts of each nation.
especially the French and British, will
be necessary before Mr.. Hoover's pan,
or a part of it, can be adopted. How
ever, the mere fact that the opposition
of the principal nations interested in
the reduction OF armamentS, or having
their own pet schemes as to how this
problem should be solved. has been less
strcng than was anticipated, is sufficient
to Justify the mild optimism which pre-
vailed this morning in the State De-
partment.
Stimson at White House.
Secretary of State Stimson conferred
this morning with President Hoover and
as he left the White House expressed
sstisfact with the early reception
given the proposed plan.
In the meantime. the President re-
ceived scores of congratulations upon
his latest move in international leader
ship Many of the messages pouring
into the Executive Mansion were read
by him personally.
Senator Capper an early morning
caller, said he had expressed his per-
sonal praise to Mr.. Hoover
His plan is very fine, very practical"
the Kansas Republican said. L believe
it will bring concrete results at Geneva
and certainly will have a gratifying ap-
peal to the people CT this country.
1t is the second time within IL
months that the President of the
United States has volunteered to take
hand and try to solve what ap-
peared to be hopelessly compromised
international situation. The first time
was last July. when Europe seemed to
be breaking down under the threat of
Germany's financial and economic
bankruptcy The second time was yes
terday, when the Lausanne conference
appeared deadlocked.
The difference betueen the two ac-
tions of the President is that while last
year be felt compelled, under the
urgency of an immediate collapse of
Germany's economic structure, TO act
with all the authority and the pres
tige which stands behind him, this time
he has offered to the world sugges-
ton which might form the basis for
general discussion at Geneva.
Proposal a Matter of Duty.
The President felt duty bound to
going badly at Geneva. The conference
was deadlocked and many participants
were suggesting its adjournment.
This suggestion was made to Secre-
taTy Stimson last April when he visited
the Geneva backgrounds. He dis
couraged it, urging all concerned to
wait and see what will happen after
the French general elections and the
governmental change in Germany.
Every seemed to have happened as it
was foreseen. The socialistic Herriot
won the elections with an overwhelm-
ing majority; the German Conservatives
under Won Papen came into Office
They are all gathered at Lausanne now
discussing the highly controversial
question of reparations
The administration thought this was
the psychological moment to put an end
to the arms parley deadlock Telephone
conversations were exchanged between
the State Department and our dele
gates at Geneva. Ramsay Macdonald.
Edouard Herriot. Col. Won Papen and
Dino Grandi were acquainted with the
general outline Of the Presidents pro-
posals.
Plan Merely a Suggestion.
The time appeared ripe for somebody
TO make some practical suggestion re-
garding the disarmament conference
Since one of the European nations, On
account of the diversity of their po-
litical problems, could take the lead. it
was only natural that the United States
should try and get them together
around proposition which has a con-
structive nucleus. 1t was pointed out
that President Hoovers plan to reduce
armaments is not take it or leave
it. proposition. 1t is merely a sugges-
tion launched by the chief executive
of Nation which is intensely pacific
and is intended only to start the ball
rolling.
If adopted, even in a modified form
1t will result in substantial savings to
all nations concerned.
AS far as this country is concerned,
the adoption of the Hoover plan would
mean a saving of s200,000,000 a year
fo- period of 10 years. without impair
ing in any way, it is said, our national
security.
1t would give the United States the
much sought parity with Great Britain,
without our building any more cruisers
At present under the London naval
tiCdIy We IldNe ilBIlt W Szo.UUU tOIlS
OF cruisers. while Great Britain is en-
titled to $4,000 tons. Under the Hoover
proposal both nations would cut that
ratio by one-fourth, which would bring
exact parity between the two countries.
without either building anything more
We would have to scrap five battle
ships, number of destroyers, many of
which are already obsolete, and num-
ber of submarines. AS far as cruisers
and airplane carriers are concerned we
would merely have to destroy the blue
prints.
That is the situation as far as the
the United States and the British are
concerned. 1t is evident that other ma
tions, especially France, will be COM
PEELED to object to the Presidents pro-
Dosal