PEACE AND DISARMAMENT

Evening Star, Issue 19722, 24 November 1927, Page 5

PEACE AND DISARMAMENT

TO BE DEBATED BY COMMONS CUETAILED CRUISER CONSTRUCTION. (British Official- News.) Press Association —By Wireless —Copyright. RUGBY', November 22. Questions relating to peace and disarmament will bo debated in the House of Commons on Thursday, and it is probable that in addition to a speech by the Foreign Secretary, the First Lord of tho Admiralty, Mr W. C. Bridgeman, will speak in reference to important decisions of the Government not to proceed with the construction of two or tliree .cruisers provided for in the year’s navy estimates. The original proposal had been to begin the building of one “A” class 10,000-ton cruiser and two “ B ” class cruisers of 8,000 tons or under. Now only one of tho smaller type is to be begun, and the start on it is being retarded. MOTION OF CRITICISM. LONDON, November 22. Mr Ramsay MacDonald on Thursday, in the House of Commons, will move a motion deploring the Government’s lack of preparation and _ the military character of tho British Delegation, which, the motion declares, seriously contributed to the failure of the Naval Conference at Geneva, the slow progress, by the League’s Preparatory Disarmament Commission, and the Government’s refusal to gccept the principle of arbitration, and promote,the scheme of international security guaranteed by the League. PROTECTION OF TRADE ROUTES. CRUISERS NECESSARY. LONDON, November 23. ,A high-priced official stales that it may lie taken for granted that Lord Cushendeu, at tho League Preparatory Committee meeting on November 30, will, if naval disarmament crops up, most strictly ‘adhere to Mr Bridgeman’s spoccch at Geneva laying down Britain’s irreducible needs in cruisers for protecting the Empire trade routes. Deferring tho construction of two 10.000- ships in the present year is no sign of a weakening of policy, but is merely giving the United States a chance to build to parity if she desires. Meanwhile Britain will not neglect the adequate provision of 6,000-touuers. SINGAPORE BASE NOT DISCUSSED AT GENEVA. BRITAIN’S CURT A 1 LED CRUISER PROGRAMME. .LONDON, November 23. (Received November 2-1, at 8.-10 a.m.) Mr W. C. Brklgeman, replying in the House of Commons to Commander Kcmvorthy, said that the Singapore expenditure to date amounted to £-122,287. Ho expected the work to be completed in 11)37 at a total cost of £7,760,000. Commander Kcmvorthy asked “ Was Singapore discussed at the Geneva Naval Conference, and would tho new circumstances responsible for the curtailment of the cruiser programme also lead to a retardment of this matter?” Mr Bridgeman said that Singapore was not discussed at Geneva. The work would certainly he retarded, but owing to the unexpected length of time involved in preliminary work he did not suggest at Geneva any reason for the postponement of the work. Mr Bridgeman, in reply to another question, said that no British^ proposals made at Geneva would have entailed increased tonnage or costs compared with the programme outlined at tho opening conference. Mr Bridgeman informed a questioner that 11 10,000-ton cruisers were being built. The published programme did not extend beyond 1920, and embraced one 10,000-tonner, and two snlaller cruisers each year in 1927, 1928, and 1929. A new situation had arisen at Geneva because, although the British proposal to limit 10-000-tonners had not been accepted, the discussion left the hope that limitation might eventually be reached.' Tho Government was therefore reluctant to lay down any more 10,000-tou vessels. It had dropped one 10;0004onner and one smaller cruiser from tho 1927 programme. The substitution of a smaller one for the 10.000- in the 1928 programme was also under consideration. Sir W. H. Davison: “ Does not the arrangement affect the Imperial trade routes and food supplies?” Lady Astor: “Is anyone attacking Britain’s food supplies?” Mr Bridgeman said that it was imperative to prepare in advance for the defence of tho trade routes. Mr -E. Hurtle: “ Will you bear in mind that the country will be pleased if you drop tho other two large ■cruisers?” There was no answer. —Sydney 1 Sun Cable. '