DISARMAMENT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20250, 30 May 1931, Page 21

DISARMAMENT.

NAVAL LIMITATION. GREAT - BRITAIN'S OFFERS.. (Htoit OB* OWSJ COttBttSPOKDtSI.) k '• } LONDON, April 23. .Mr A. V.» Alexander» FirstJLgrd. of ■the Admiralty, speaking at a dinner given by the E*eter Chamber of Commerce, said, that for many years fa this country, whatever Government was in office, they had been endcavvouring to securo world agreement upon disarmament. The London Naval Conference was held largely as a result of the impression made by the Prime Minister of his visit to, America; in 1929, - ; Foreign Secretary. ■• "It ceemcd that when Mr Htender«>n and I were in Pariß and Rome the other day," he continued, "we had dearM the way through one of the great handicaps to the world discos aion on disarmament to be held • in 1932 Since then one or two auestions have been raised with regartr to the basis of agreement to be arrived at, and it is for na to say whether,, ye cannot, in spite of certain difficulties raised, arrive at agreement in the draft basis which •we . brought back from Rome and. Paris. It is necetsary to. say to the world lliat this country has proved on more than one occasion its complete desire in regard to disarmament, and no country in the world has made such an offer as v?e have done. Our naval strength is not more than half of what it was in 1914. Navai strength must always be reckoned in two ways—one by the actual minimum, ana the other by relative requirement. You must remember the relative circumstances in 1914 and the relative circumstances of to-day. Other Nations' Obligations. "We have made the greatest contribution to naval disarmament of any country in the world. We are prepared to go further, but it can only be if other nations in the world. oro willing to go with us just as quickly. There can be no extension or consolidation of peace in the world by unilateral disarmament Disarmament ot one nation alone cannot bring the confidence that is required for world peace. I hope that as a result of the further conversations taking place wo shall be able to remove the handicap that might still possibly remain to our policy and a more frank discussion »t Geneva nest year, International agreement as to disarmament in which .tlu> security of the nations is not impaired will do a great deal towards answering the demands of those who are asking for progress in the direction of economy. Since I have been in offic' the Naval Estimates have been down biv over £4.000.000 each year I am often criticised because they are down. It is usual that every one wants economy except in his own particular direction."