Abstract

Editorials

On January 7, two days before the American delegation to the naval conference at London sailed from New York, President Herbert Hoover issued a statement in which he expressed the hope "that the people of our country will cooperate in the progress of the conference by patience, encouragement, and freedom from criticism." This unusual appeal followed a frank admission that "difficulties of finding a basis" for "actual reduction in naval burdens of the world" that will be "acceptable to five different nations are great, but they are not insuperable." Hoover's appeal for patience, hopefulness, and an open mind on the part of the American public was doubtless called out by his recognition of the unexpectedly complicated situation which the conference will have to meet.