Unilateral Disarmament

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 46, 18 November 1936, Page 13

Unilateral Disarmament

Sir, —Mr. W. J. Scott asserts that Britain's policy .of unilateral disarmament is a “myth that dies hard.” He apparently denies that Britain ever set any example in that direction. Facts are completely against him. Before the war Britain had 69 capital ships, in October 1935, she had 15; she had 105 cruisers reduced to 50 in 1935. Then 322 torpedo destroyers were reduced in 1935 to 118, and 74 submarines reduced to 48. As compared with 1914, she disbanded nine cavalry regiments, 27 battalions of infantry, 61 batteries of artillery, and 21 companies of engineers. Territorial establishments were reduced from 313,000 to 170,000. finally, at the beginning of 1936 Britain had fallen from the first air power to fifth or sixth place. These figures were given in the House of Commons early this year. In case your correspondent should question them as being made by the present Government in England, may we quote those Alinisters who were really responsible for trying the policy of disarmament as an example to the world? In January, 1930, Air. Ramsay AlacDonald, leader of the Socialist Government, said: “We are the only nation among the leading Powers who can show a continuous redaction of armaments — if we cannot get an agreement, we maybe forced to expand.” Mr. Alexander, First Lord of the Admiralty in the Socialist Cabinet, said in 1931: “I do not hesitate to say that we have gone so far in disarmament that we must say that further disarmament depends on how far other nations will go ■with us.” Mr. Tom Shaw, Minister for War in the same Government, pointed out that Britain had set an example in disarmament but others did not follow. He added that he “held a beautiful theory that ought to work out, but did not.” Britain’s unilateral disarmament is not a “myth,” but a solid fact.—We are, etc., N.Z. WELFARE_LEAGUE. Wellington, November 17.