Evening star., 1932-11-05
Navy Day Revives Activity
In Direction of Arms Pact

National observance of Navy day, in
the course Of which President Hoover
voiced the American purpose to build
the Navy up to treaty strength, has di-
vided attention with developments in
Europe, including the possibility of
England agreeing to the American pro-
posals and q reduction plan offered by
the premier of France. Public opinion
is turned in the direction of prospects
for international agreements after long
delay
In connection with the discussion Of
Navy day the Pasadena Star-NeWs
asserts that the United States will
meet any we'll digested agreement to
reduce armaments, provided all the
great powers enter into such agreement
n good faith: but this Nation will not
strip itself of necessary armaments for
successful defense until all the other
great powers join in reducing their
ornaments correspondingly The Mil
waukee Sentinel holds that the people
Of the country may "profitably heed
the lessons of the day" since many
forces are at work tending to lower
the strength of our maritime defense
below that of other nations" The
Rock Island Argus advises that this
Nation is one Of the great world powers
and its Navy should be commensurate
with that fact" while the Chicago Daily
News believing that "the choice Is be-
tween the Hoover program and another
wasteful and deplorable armament
race" contends that continued failure
of the Geneva conference to evolve a
satisfactory agreement would compel
the United States to face the grim
realities Of the world situation" The
Lexington Leader feels that "the people
of this country, as q mere matter OF
assurance, must provide the Navy with
whatever it needs to keep itself in a
position to defend the Nation from all
hostile attacks"
The Charleston Cw. va) Daily Mail
feels that 1.-The United States has demon
strated its sincerity beyond question, but
1t cannot afford to continue to run the
risks Of inadequate defense while
other powers enlarge their navieS and
armies"
Discussing the developments abroad.
the Topeka Daily Capital suggests that
English opinion and European opinion
appear to be won to the Hoover dis
armament plan of a fiat one-third re-
duction all around" while the Youngs-
town Vindicator AYERS that ''the world
needs peace and chance to recuperate,
and at last 1t seems, progress Is being
| made in that direction" The Boston
Transcipt states that, "if 1t is really
true that European statesmen are now
beginning to see more clearly than ever
the need Of arms reduction on economic
grounds, some effective general pact
may be obtainable" The Lincoln State
journal voices satisfaction in the belief
that the nations ARE much nearer an
agreement than they have been at any
time in recent years" Warning that
ence would mean resumption on grand
scale Of the race for naval superiority, "
the Cincinnati TfmeS-Star concludes
There are unmistakable signs that the
powers ct last mean business. II they
do, Hoover's statement may supply the
incentive that brings action" The st.
Joseph Gazette offers the comment: 1T
Is, OF course, much too early to predict
what the outcome of diplomatic activity
will be- The result may be a new world
order, on the basis of which common
international economic problems can be
attacked, or 1t may be merely Q re-
stunning Of nations into new balance
Of power, with all problems carried
over"
Noting that the French Chamber of
Deputies has Overwhelmingly approved
Premier Herriot's new plan for arma-
ment reduction and limitation, the San
Antonio Express remarks that the plan
contains some proposals which may
prevent acceptance by the United
States, because this country has re-
jected I'll suggestions for internationally
controlling armaments and for making
every eolntsys defNasA stablishHent
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