HOOVER TO CONGRESS

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 135, 4 December 1929, Page 11

HOOVER TO CONGRESS

NAVAL DISARMAMENT

TARIFF AND PROHIBITION

tJnited Press Association—By Electric Tele.

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(Eeceived 4th December, 9 a.m.) WASHINGTON, 3rd December.

President Hoover, in his annual Message- to Congress on Tuesday, referring to the forthcoming Naval Conference, said: "We hold high hopes that success may attend this effort. Upon this Conference will depend such moderation as this country may make in naval expenditure. If we shall be compelled to undertake the construction implied in the Washington Arms Treaty, as well as other construction which would appear to be necessary if an international agreement is not completed, we shall be committed during the next six years to a construction expenditure approximating 1200 million dollars, besides a necessary further increase in the cost of annual upkeep."

The President contended that the country could well be deeply concerned at the growing expense of national defence. While its forces were comparatively small, its expenditures were "in excess of the most highly militarised nations of the world."

Discussing the tariff the President asked for an "effective tariff on agricultural products" and "some limited changes" in industrial schedules. He reiterated that he desired "the broad principle" of the flexible provision of tho pending Bill to be retained.

President Hoover 'a views in this connection recently were disregarded by the Senate.

Touching on Prohibition, President Hoover stated that the enforcement of the laws enacted to give effect to the Eighteenth Amendment was far from satisfactory.