BRITAIN'S PROGRAMME

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 62, 15 March 1927, Page 9

BRITAIN'S PROGRAMME

MANY POINTS OF VIEW

DEBATE m PARLIAMENT

(United Press Association.—Copyright) (Received loth March, 10 a.m.)

LONDON, 14th March.

In the House of Commons the First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. "W. C. Bridgeman, introducing the Naval Estimates, said that there was no novelty in the new instructions, -which merely continued the programme accepted in 1925. The success of efforts to make internal economies and reduce the cost of replacements was greater than he had darsd to hope. Hast year's coal stoppage meant £750,000 out of the vote unspent. The amount would revert co tne Exchequer. - The Admiralty m the past year had not only balanced new construction but was five millions to the good towards the year 1926-27. The total estimates f-jr " the coming ynar were £58,000,000, which was £100,000 below last year's figures, fifty-eight millions now only equalled the pre-war spending power of thirtyfour millions, and the estimates in 3914 were 51* millions. Therefore the current expenditure was seventeen millions less than that for several years before the war. ?HE EMPIRE'S PART. Eeforrbig to the Imperial Conference decisions, Mr. Bridgoinan said that parts of the Empire aiready contributed largely to the cost of th-3 Navy, including the Malay States offer of 5%2,000.----000 sprer.'l over four years towards the Singapore Base. Hs hoped that in years to come other parts of the Empire would contribute and that those who had already done so would contribute more. The total cost of the Singapore Base had been reduced from £11,000,----000 to_ £7,750,000 by omitting certain facilities -for storage and repairs which were not absolutely necessary and could be erected quickly if the political outlook became clouded. COOLIDGE CONFERENCE. The Admiralty welcomed President Coolidge's disarmament invitation provided that other nations would consider our special difficulties as we would consider theirs. "I believe," ho said, ''that it is our sacred duty to have a naval strength equal to that of any othor Power and a reasonable security for the guardian of our trade communications. The Admiralty is proud of its endeavour to carry it out. I do not think any deflection from it would be tolerated by Parliament. The Admiralty will continue to carry oat that obligation, and even if the Commons said that they would not be guided by that formula I would not take the responsibility for carrying out the decision."

Mr. Bridgcman said that he hoped the French and Italian Governments would reconsider the question of attending the proposed' conference, but, even if they found it impossible to attend, nothing but good could come from deliberations with other naval Powers. LABOUR CRITICISM. Mr. C. G. Ammon (Lab.), former First Lord of Admiralty, said that President Ooolidge's proposed conference gave an opportunity for a reduction in naval expenditure to prove the sft> cerity of Britain's desire to reduco armaments. With ships coining into com mission in the coming yoar, it would have been easy to have withheld tne prosent programme of construction pending the conference. Whon the new cruisers were ready, thoy would go to China, whore he saw a danger to the poaco of the world, and the possibility of a similar state of affairs in tho Far East as existed in tho North Sea in 1914. Our warships could not bo in Chinese waters without a sot purpose. Mr. Ammon declared that the House had a right to know what was in tho Government's mind, and what danger it feared in Eastern waters. Thero was also much concern that Mr. Churchill was allowed to publish criticisms of officers' strategy and conduct, which wero extremely difficult for them to defend. Admiral Sir E. Hall (C.) did not object so much to criticisms of living oflicers, who could look after themselves, but to criticisms of tho dead, which tended to split tho Navy into camps, which was an ill-scrvico to tho Navy and the nation. EXCHANOE OF OFFICERS. Mr. Runciman (L.) suggested an interchange of naval and mercantile officers in order that the Navy might have an efficient trade department if war broko out. Tho Chamber of Shipping was open to Admiralty suggestions in this direction. Ho could not sco how tho naval programme could bo reduced for a year or two. Mr. Runciman said that a crisis might arise when tho Washington agreement ended in 1932. Unless it were renewed, the Admiralties of naval Powers would settle down to now programmes, which would bo difficult to resist. Naval reduction was only possihlo by international agreement. ECONOMY URGED. Commander Hilton Ycung (C.) said that it was improvident to ombark on bulk production whon naval architects and strategy were in the melting pot. They must seek rolief from financial burdens, for tho future of the Empiro depended .on Britain's financial strength. Thero was at present no change in the international situation, and a chanco of a naval holiday should bo seized in order to nusband resources. Commander Ken worthy: "It would bo a fatal mistake if Britain did not enter in President Coolidge's conference with a well-defined plan, as to what she intended to carry out in a determination to rnako the conference a success. Commander Kcnworthy suggested that Britain should propose to the three great naval Powers to agree to defend each other's trade routes in event of unprovoked aggression. Commander Bcllairs and Mr. Churchill had ( rendered great service by providing an opportunity for tho public discussion of tho conduct of the naval part of the war. Admiral Beamish (C), classed the naval nir aim as an anomaly, an experiment which was courting disaster arid difficulty. Commander Burney (C), said that it was essential to have international laws relating 'to aerial warfare complementary to those affecting sea warfare.