BRITAIN'S POUCY

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 22, 26 July 1927, Page 9

BRITAIN'S POUCY

SECURITY AND ECONOMY

MEETING OF CABINET

(British Official Wireless.)

BUGBY, 25th July. Points of detail still to be settled Ja the negotiations on the cruiser problem at the Geneva Naval Limitation Con. ference were this morning before Cabi. net, which is also understood to be giring general consideration to the necessity for meeting the constant misrepresentation of the British case in foreign corn tries. It may be found necessary to draft a statement which would correct the impression that the idea of expansion which has crept into the Conference has arisen out of the British proposals, which were in fact based entirely on a desire for achieving the greatest pos* sible economy consistent with security. If given effect to, they would have re« suited in an economy of over £50,000. 000. The First Lord of the Admiralty, Mr. Briageman, and Lord Cecil will return to Geneva to-morrow. Their visit to London has enabled Cabinet to endorse the clear statement of the British case that was made at the recent Plenary fiessiou, on examining more exhaustively the figures npon which it is based. "The Times" expresses the hope that certain slight modifications made may improve the prospects of agreement. MB. CHURCHILL'S VIEWS. Passing, reference to the Conference ■was made in a week-end speech by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Winston Churchill, at Honiton. He admitted that so far there had not emerged from the Conference any clear assurance either of economy or of national security. ««No* effort,'' he Baid, " must be spared to bring that Conference to a successful conclusion. We desire that its results should be permanent, but it is absolutely necessary that the present position of the British Empire and the present position of this island should be understood. For many generations we held the sovereignty of the seas. We used it for the benefit of all nations. Due consideration must be shown by each of those Great Powers in the special needs of others in vital matters.

Agreement Is very desirable. Disagreement would be very regrettable. Never* theless an agreement that spends gigantic sums on naval construction for many years may be worse for all concerned than a moderate expenditure following freedom from any agreement. The objects which we set before ourselves are those of security and economy, and above all peace and the spirit of peace."

Mr. Bridgeman had an audience with the King last evening.

FULL CABINET MEETS TO-DAY.

Sir Austen Chamberlain, Foreign Sec* retary and Acting-Prime Minister, presided at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee this morning, when points of detail arising out of the Geneva Naval Limitation Conference negotiations were considered in consultation with technical advisers. :

A full Cabinet Council will finally review the situation to-morrow, prior to the return to Geneva of tho chief Brit? ish delegates.