Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1933-01-10
HOOVER MESSAGE.
To CONGRESS ASKS.
EMBARGO ON ARMS.
President Urges Ratification
of Convention for Suppress
sion of the Trade.
CHAC0 ROW PROMPTS
EXECUTIVES REQUEST
Cites Need of More Authority for
Executive in Control of Mu-
nitions Shipments.

President Hoover in a special message
to Congress today urged immediate rati-
fication of the International Conven-
ton for Suppression of International
Trade in Arms and Ammunition and
Implements of War, signed at Geneva,
June II, 1925, and which is before the
Senate and has never been ratified.
The President suggested that if, how
ever it is impossible for the Senate now
to ratify this treaty, legislation should
be passed giving the Executive authority
in his discretion to limit or forbid ship
ment Of arms for military purposes IN
cases where special undertakings OF
co-operation can be secured with the
principal arms manufacturing nations.
Chaco Row Prompts Plea.
This action on the part of the Presi-
dent was prompted by growing dim
cuities between Paraguay and Bolivia,
which in the past week or SO nave
brought forth limitations that there
would be an arms embargo placed py
this government.
The President in his message called
attention to the urgent need of more
authority for the executive in control
of arms shipment to other countries
for military purposes. He expressed the
belief that control Of such shipments
to areas of prospective and actual in
ternational conflict would greatly aid
Whit he described as the earnest
and unceasing efforts which all nations
now make to prevent and lessen the
dangers of such conflicts"
The President emphasized the TACT,
that for one nation alone to engage
in such arms embargoes while other
nations continue to ship arms, is
futility and moreover, would tend to
give advantage to one nation over an
other by increasing the war potenti-
ahties in manufacture and skill OF nom
cooperating nations.
Text of Message.
The Presidents message to Congress
follows, in full:
.sTo the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives:
"Recent events have emphasized the
urgent need of more authority to the
executive in control OF the shipment
of arms from the United States for
military purposes. There can be no
doubt that the control of such ship
ments to areas of prospective and actual
international conflict would greatly aid
the earnest and unceasing efforts which
all nations now make to prevent and
lessen the dangers of such conflicts.
However, for one nation alone to
engage in such prohibitions while other
nations continue to supply arms Is a
futility. Moreover, it would tend to
give advantage to one nation over an
other by increasing the potentiality in
manufacture and skill of non-co-operat-
ing nations.
There is before the Senate an inter-
national convention for the suppression
of international trade in arms and am
munition and implements of war signed
at Geneva. June II, 1925, awaiting ratl-
fication. This convention has been ad-
hered to by large number of the other
important nations and is practically
stopped through failure of the United
States to adhere to it. Its ratification
would contribute to the ends being
sought by the entire world for the pre-
vention and limitation of war. 1
earnestly urge that this convention
should be ratified.
Urges Legislation.
of however, it is impossible, as seems
to be the case, for the Senate to now
ratify this treaty, it is urged that legis-
lation should be passed comforting upon
the President authority in his discretion
to limit or forbid shipment of arms for
military purposes in cases where special
undertakings of cooperation can be Sc
cured with the principal arms manufac-
turing nations.
while such measure would not &C
complish the whole of the purposes
which the advance thought in the
world requires, it would at least enable
the executive in special cases to place
the United States in line with other
nations who are willing to make such
sacrifices in the prevention of military
conflicts.
II therefore urge that this convention
should receive ratification of the Senate
now. or alternatively that legislation. to
the purpose mentioned should be
promptly enacted.
Il attach hereto the views of the
Secretary of State upon this subject
(Signed) Herbert Hoover"
The attached views of the Secretary
of State were not made public at the
White House at the time the Presi-
dents message itself was given TO the
press.
HINKI Err STILL SOUGHT