U. S. GESTURE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 223, 20 September 1929, Page 7

U. S. GESTURE.

PRACTICAL STEP. Order To Decommission 53 Destroyers. hoover and disarmament. (Australian Press Assn. United Sen ice.) (Received 10 a.m.) WASHINGTON, September 19. T] ie Navy Department on Thursday revealed that its recent order for the decommissioning of destroyers of the battle and scouting fleets "would extend to 53 ships. The Anclo-American naval disarmament negotiations were described by Mr. Hoover in an address broadcast by wireless as proposals which would preserve the national defences of America, and TC t would relieve the backs of those ; vho toil from gigantic expenditure and the world from the hate and fear which flow from rivalry in the building oi warships.

This is the first time the President w mentioned the subject of disarmament in a public address since the negotiations were begun.

Italy Keeps Silent. Italy lias not yet shown lici hfind in regard to navaf disarmament, but the Rome correspondent of the limes snvs at present there is no reason to suppose her attitude lias in any way changed from that ot last yeai. The.i she undertook to accept any figure, however low, provided it was not exceeded by any other continental Power, 'in other words Italy is determined ever to maintain her right to parity with France. The \V a Ellington Confei - ence recognised this parity as far as the larger units are concerned, but Italy wants it extended to light cruisers and submarines.

It is insisted that such recognition on the part of France must be a condition precedent to any conceited action foi naval disarmament between the two countries. Viscount Cecil's Plea. Viscount Cecil encountered opposition when he reopened controversial subjects at a meeting of the Disarmament Commission of the League of Nations. < 110 wanted the commission to consider limitations of materials, personnel and trained reserves, Army and Navy Budgets, also international control and enforcement of a disarmament treaty. In an impassioned peroration, Lord Cecil said: "If the draft treaty includes no reduction or limitation of material we shall be presenting to a hungering world not bread but a stone—something of almost no practical value. There is no question that compulsion work must be done in collaboration and co-opera-tion. "If any Power is unprepared to take a substantial step then the others can only submit. This might be the end of the disarmament scheme, which is the only direct and positive safeguard against war. It is the cornerstone of the edifice of peace."