ARMAMENT CUT

Grey River Argus, 30 June 1932, Page 5

ARMAMENT CUT

BRITISH ATTITUDE Need for Caution Urged (Aus. & N.Z. Cable Assn,. LONDON, June 28. In the House of Commons on the motion for the adjournment, Mr George Lansbury (Labour Leader) raised the question of President Hoover’s in armaments. He would not say that these proposals went as far as th - -* Labour Party desired the British Government to go, but it was one o’ the most magnificent proposals e made. It covered a wider rang** than any proposal except Russia’s demand for toal disarmament. If Britain could join the United States in this matter, two of the most important nations would bo united in making a stand. If the Government, said Mr Lansbury, had put to th? Dominions some alternative to Mr Eoov« . -j pro posals, then the House wanted to know what it was. Mr Baldwin, replying, said that he was in general agreement with much that Mr Lansbury had said. Me Bald win said he rejoiced to see Mr Hoover’s proposals, because they were on the scale on which he would like to see disarmament take place. He her e<l that when Mr Mac-Donald and the members of the Cabinet, now ar Lausanne had a knowledge of the Cabinet discussions in London it would

be possible to give the House of Com nions substantial information. The Dominions had been 00-mmunieated with, and their replies would probably be received in the course of a day or two He hoped that the House would recognise that Britain had responsibi lities greater than any other country. She was responsible for thp ultimate maintenance of law and order among founr hundred millions of people in the East, and for the sea communica tions between Britain and the Dominions. Therefore, although it was perfectly possible for Britain to join in bringing about as great reductions as were suggested in the Washingtoi there were various aspects which thev must guard against. in view of the Government’s responsibi lities to their own people and to the Dominions overseas

HOOVER’S PROPOSAL. RUGBY. June 28. This afternoon. Mr Gibson, chief American delegate at Geneva, visited 1 Mr MacDonald at Lausanne, and dis-1 cussed the disarmament problem. The general committee of the Disarmament Conference will meet again next week. Meanwhile the delegates of eight nations will meet privately at the residence of the Spanish delegate, Senor de Madiariga at Geneva, to-day, to discuss the Hoover proposals. Tt was decided to depute the Belgian delegate, M. de Brouckere, to inquire from the American delegation further

details regarding the proposed “police component,” contained 'in the Hoover suggestions regarding land effectives. Sir J. Simon flew to Geneva from London to-day. Hoover Plan « SMALL NATIONS TAVOUR.ABLE. GENEVA, June 29. Eight smaller nations this forenoon accepted America’s plan for the reduction of armed effectiveness, sphject to a clarification of the position as to trained reserves and police components.