NAVAL POLICY.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18070, 12 May 1924, Page 9

NAVAL POLICY.

DEBATE IN COMMONS* DOCKS AND DISARMAMENT. (at CiBLE—PBXSS ASSOCIATION OOPSBIOBt.) . ' LONDON, May 9. The desirableness Of & policy Of disarmament on, one hotid, aiidtlie provl- 1 , sion and equipment of dockyards ott i the other hand. .were titd mflia, ppitttfl I debated during a discussion on the | Naval Estimates in the House oi Oom» ' moaa. I The Consemtive^perilsted'in stressI lag the necessity for improving "the [ Singapore dockyard. Mr L. 0. M. B. Ataety (former First Lord of Admiralty) 1 said there was an overwhelming case for -■ the. modernisation .of -at one dockyard east of the Sues: Canal, and in such event there Was no doubt which fehoula be chosen. Mr C. GL Affltnoti "(Parliament* ary Secretary to - the Admiralty) replying)' 1 said that the . JJoyera'pienh'' noted*" with; '|he \ friendli* neSs BUd pleasure the American Senate's- .resolutions regarding another, 'limitation 'of. armaments conference. Jt would do everything possible, so i&e as Great Britain was concerned,-t6-show a reciprocal desire to enter any such, negotiations or discussion#. • - < ) • .♦ Admiralty expats, said Mr Amfabhj Were studying the question .ofhowthe. development of the • higheroffensive poweVW diffwent weapons'migh^ta-1 rially Alter tho strategic valfyo£ ; doefc' Wds. One difccu# concerned the Veifafe of the .population'which igwy Ufi aroundt aad,AVhi«h' toft, pendent, upon the,existing dockyards. had now altered onfall sides.tog&tdltig, the "desirableness 6t ' adopting the Geddea Committee's Bfifcgeitioii to, dlfl* pose of the Pembroke docked,'> but the Admiralty was qtiit*. ready, to WU ! sheernesfl for commercial purpoieii ..