THE U.S.A.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 288, 4 December 1929, Page 7

THE U.S.A.

REVIEW BY PRESIDENT REDUCTION OF ARMAMENTS THE EIGHTEENTH AMENDMENT. [By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright] Received Dec. 3, 10 p.m. WASHINGTON, Dec. 3. Mr Hoover, in his annual address to Congress, said that the foundations for future peace were being substantially strengthened through the Kellogg-Bri-and pact. Referring to the court of international justice, he said: “I believ e it will be clear to everyone that no controversy or question ii v;hich this country has, or claims laterest, can be pass ed on by the world court without our consent at the time the question arises. Our adherence to the international court is, as now constituted, not the slightest step toward entry into the League of Nations. I shall direct that our signature be affixed to tlu protocal of adherence.

“We have joined in the conference for the further limitation and reduction of naval arms and we hold high hopes that success may attend this effort. I recommend Congress to give its earnest consideration to the possibilities of prudent action which will give relief from our continuously mounting military expenditures. Wc have undertaken never to use war as an instrument of national policy and we, therefore, have undertaken to us e these equipments solely for defensive purposes. From a defence point of view our forces should be proportioned to the national need and should therefore, to some extent, be modified by the prospects of peace, which were never brighter than to-day.” Commenting on the national Budget, the President said that the total appropriations recommended for the fiscal year of 1931 are 3,630,445,231 dollars, compared with 3,976,141,651 dollars for the present fiscal year. Mr Hoover commented on the large degree of prosperity the country was enjoying and the wave of ucontrolled speculation resulting in a diversion ef capital from the business to the stock market, with its inevitable crash. He pointed out that the capital hitherto absorbed by speculation was now returning to its normal channels and “through the measures we already have undertaken we have re-establishd confidence and wages should remain stable. ’ ’

The President advocated important administrative changes to assure the better enforcement of the Eightenth Amendment. He indicated that an attempt would also be made to more effectively control organised crime.