DISARMAMENT.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVI, 12 February 1927, Page 5

DISARMAMENT.

AIR COOLIDGE’S AIESSAGE. KEEN INTEREST IN BRITAIN. BY CABLE—PRESS ASSOCIATION—COPYRIGHT. LONDON, Feb. 10. The United States disarmament memorandum, as outlined in President Coolidge’s speech, has ! boen presented at the Foreign Office. President Coolidge’s limitation of armaments message is given prominence in the newspapers, but there is little serious comment as yet. Alembers of the House of Commons showed the keenest interest at Westminster when the news came off the tape- machines. Air MacDonald, watching the message (being ticked out, said it was the most significant event with far-reaching consequences.

So far as the British attitude was concerned, successive Governments have always welcomed the extension of the principle of the limitation of armaments. It is understood, however, that the Admiralty argues that a higher ratio should he allowed Britain owing to the fact that she has longer trade routes to protect than any other Power. The Daily Chronicle says that President Coolidge ’s proposal to separate naval disarmaments from the larger issues comes at an opportune moment. “Preparatory commissions of inquiry,” it says, “have served to reveal the infinity and perplexity of the problem. If the five Powers can give an example of self-denial as regards submarines and cruisers, may we not hope the next step will soon follow and a plan be devised for limiting aeroplanes and suppressing poison gas?” The Daily Express says: “President Coolidge, speaking from the calm security' of the United States, gives the world an idealistic exhortation. Vve appreciate the sentiments, but wh it is really wanted is a formula that, will permanently cure the nations of wnrlike intentions.”