NATIONAL DEFENCE

Evening Star, Issue 18336, 25 July 1923, Page 5

NATIONAL DEFENCE

NTISH GOVERNMENT'S PLANS. OPPOSITION FROM LABOR. rosa Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. | LONDON, July 23. iln the House of Commons Mr Ramsay acDonaM initiated a debate ou dlsarmaent with a motion deploring thoenoroii6 and growing expenditure on military eparations, and urging the Government take immediate steps to call an interiticmal conference to consider a proam me of national safety based on the >]icy that by disarmament alone could be peace ami liberty of small and largo aliens bo secured'. Ono colossal folly for which the Governont must bo bold seriously responsible, id Mr MacDonald, was the wild and 1 anion escapade of Singapore. A pledge [as given at the beginning of the Great var that that war was to end war. That ad now become the most sacred of all [ledges' to the dead, and any party in the jtouse or outside that ventured to play vitli th epledgo broke faith with the milions who had died. Mr H. O’Neill (Conservative) moved as in amendment that the Government at bo earliest opportunity should use its nflucnce, both through the League of 'various and otherwise, to prevent a rceurenco of international com petition, and iring about a general limitation of armanents.

Mr Asquith said that bo regretted the mendmont, because lie thought it was of io utmost importance at a time like this nit the House of Commons should present n absolutely united front and give a. firm ad to the rest of the world in the protest latest the growth of armaments. It was i possible to exaggerate the gravity of the (nation. He appealed 1 to the Govement to stay its hand in the matter of nsaporo. Sir Samuel Hoa.ro (Air Minister) declared at the Governmest was doing its utmost explore the openings towards a reducm of armaments. (The Prime. Minister, in closing the dene. said that the feeling of all quarters Übe House was deep and sincere regardfj the evils which were to bo combated, l.vas noteworthy that since peace a strong lil feeling in favor of Nationalism was ring in different places which might Ur the. seeds of much future peril to Iropo; but there was also a feeling in i hearts of millions that, whatever had en the result of the war, if civilisation s to be saved it behoved all peoples join together to do what was possible preserve it. The Government believed it an attempt at this moment to convene international conference would lead to indefinite postponement of any possiitv of achieving the end which all clo?d. Before good could ho done the ropaions question and the security of fron's must he settled. Meanwhile the (I’ermnent would examine sympathetically . .• proposals from the League of Nations, dr MacDonald's motion was defeated by j votes to 169.—A. and N.Z. Cable.