PRESIDENT HOOVER

Hokitika Guardian, 31 May 1929, Page 6

PRESIDENT HOOVER

DELIVERS MEMORIAL DAY

ADDRESS

United Press Association—By Electric Telegraph—Copyright).

(Received this day at 8.30- a.in.) WASHINGTON, May 30. Standing at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington Cemetery, Mr Hoover delivered a Memorial Day address. He calk'd upon the nations o'f the world for immediate steps towards a. reduction of naval armaments, and said: “Wo must clothe our lait h and idealism with action."

'flic keynote of the speech was an earnest plea for the co-operation of all powers in the development ol the instrumentalities of peacdliil. adjustment. . .

He declared: “Fear and suspicion will never slacken unless we can halt the competitive construction of arms. The limitation of increase is not our goal, but the actual reduction of existing commitments t-o flic lowered levels. The path to such , world programme has already been opened by tlie acceptance of the Kellogg I reat,\. if this declaration really represents tin; aspirations of the. peoples, and d tin's covenant is to lie proof that the. world lias renounced war as an instrument .of national policy, it means at once the abandonment of the aggressive use of. arms by every signatoiy nation and becomes a sincere, declaration thaf all armaments hercaifter shall be used only lor, defence.

'■ With these principles before us our problem is .to secure agreement .among the nations that we shall inarch together toward a reduction of naval equipment. ~v Mr Hoover added a warning: “Despite the • declaration of the Kellogg I’ncl every important country has since the signing of that agreement been engaged in strengthening its naval arm.'' Wo are still borne on the tide ol competitive building. bear and suspicion will never disappear unless we can turn the tide towards an actual reduction.”

WASHINGTON, May 30

Mr Hoover concluding his address •vat Arlington called attention to the jfaet that, the United States had offered a new programme to the world lor an mil reduction and, maintenance oi an agreed- relativity of naval strength. Be declared : “The, time has come when I we ljiusfc know' whether the pact we signed i.s. real...pr whether we are condemned to a, f urther more extensive programme of naval construction.