“ABSOLUTE FRANKNESS”

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 789, 9 October 1929, Page 9

“ABSOLUTE FRANKNESS”

HOOVER AND MACDONALD PARLEY SENATORS IMPRESSED (Australian and Ts’.Z. Press Association) j (United. Service) Reed. 9.5 a.m. WASHINGTON, Tues. j President Hoover said on Tuesday that his conversations with Mr. Ramsay MacDonald were being carried on in an atmosphere of absolute frankness. “Neither of us has anything in reserve/’ he deciared. The President said that since there were no controversies between the United States and Britain to be settled at this time, it was possible to carry on the talks with a prospective of the future. In a broad sense the two were searching for those things that would promote good feeling between the American and British peoples. More important than the conversations themselves was the reaction of the American people—the great friendliness they had shown to Mr. MacDonald and through him to the British people. REDUCTION PROPOSAL There is some sign that President j Hoover is still determined to carry j out a reduction of naval armaments j as well as limitations. He has ais- j cussed with Mr. MacDonald the prob- I lem of still further reducing the crui- j ser tonnage agreed upon in the lat- j ter’s conversations with General j Dawes, without running counter to | the hostile public sentiment in both j countries. It is also believed that the Presi- ; deDt and Mr. MacDonald considered the possibility of deferring the replacement of Dreadnought tonnage, as provided in the Washington Treaty. However, this is not likely to be included in the agenda of the forthcom- ’ ing five-Power Conference in London ; in January. VIEWS OF SENATORS ; Four prominent, members of the Senate commented upon Mr. MacDonald's I speech in that Chamber. ! Senator J. A. Reed (Democrat) said: | “It will relieve the people of both I countries of the burden which is | growing intolerable and thus lead to ! general world-wide self-restraint. That ! will be a blessing to all humanity.” | Senator G. H. Moses (Republican) j said: “With comity I feel sure we may I have parity.” i Senator C. A. Swanson (Democrat) 1 said: “It will be productive of great ' good. Not only will it aid in the estab- | lishment. of amicable relations between America and Britain, but it will be

beneficial in promoting a better understanding and more peaceful and rordisl relations between alt nations.” Senator W. K Borah (Republican!. chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said: “1 thought it was a very happy speech.”