DISARMAMENT.

Press, Volume LXIV, Issue 19317, 23 May 1928, Page 9

DISARMAMENT.

BRITAIN'S POLICY. DEFINED BY MR BALDWIN. (UXITBD SBISS ASSOCIATION —BT BLICTBIO TILFQIUrH—COPTRIOHT.) (Received May 23nd, 8 p.m.) LONDON, May 22. Mr Baldwin, acknowledging a. petition containing 100,000 signatures asking for t.he acceptance of tlio 1910 standard of disarmament as a basis for general disarmament, wrote to the National Council for the Prevention of War, stating tliat maintenance of peace and the prevention of war inspired the whole foreign policy or tl»' Government. He hoped still i'urtlur to reduce armaments through common action and agreement with other nations. If Britain alone proceeded further to disarm there was no guarantee that others would follcv the example, anil no British Government dare run this risk. It would make her a prey to hostile forces, oxcite cupidity and hostile intention, and encourage, instead of preventing, wnr. Further ilisarmamentary steps must be the result of t.ho combined notion of all countries. Tho Government would co-operate in work of this nature, but found it impossible to pledge in advance any given standard of disarmament. —Australian Press Association.