TALK ON DISARMAMENT

Hawera Star, Volume LIII, 9 November 1933, Page 6

TALK ON DISARMAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS DEBATE

OPINIONS OF LABOUR LEADER. PACTS SMASHED BY JAPAN RUSSIAN MOVE ADMIRED (United Press Association —By Electric Telegraph Copyright.) LONDON, Nov. S. Mr George Lansbmy, Labour leader, continuing the disarmament debate in the House of Commons, said the armament firms were doing remarkably well and there should be a regular inspection of them with monthly publication of productions. . Regarding Locairno Labour recognised that treaties could not be wiped out without negotiations with the parties. Th e Kellogg and Nine-Power Pacts were smashed by Japan, which rid 11 occupied a neighbour’s territory. They could not expect respect fo,r treaties if they did not take action in such situations. They simply passed a- condemnatory League resolution. The covenant provided for action in such cases. Russia had proposed real disarmament and Italy was willing to descend to the lowest acceptable standard. Why had Britain not done the same thing? Labour believed the only way was to reduce the whole of the armaments of Europe and not allow Germany in anywise to rearm.

CIVILISATION AT STAKE Sir A. H. M. Sinclair, for the Liberals, in the absence of Sir Herbert Samuel, who was indisposed, said the survival of civilisation was at stake. He hoped the debate would show every part of the House was sincere in its demands for peace. Peace and disarmament were achievable only by constructive disarmament through the League. Ho welcomed the declaration that Britain was determined to stand by the Locarno obligations. Germany must not he allowed to re-arm, but the Allies must implement their duty to disarm. Sir Austen Chamberlain said that even without German co-operation he hoped the Disarmament Conference would go forward and frame a convention. If Germany rejected it all the world would know which nation was responsible for shutting the door on better relations between the nations. Mu- L. O. M. S. Amery asked : Why not change our policy and look after our own -security, which is the best security for the peace of the world? Let us stop this wild goose chase and Whittling down of the world armaments. Leave Europe to -settle its own affairs. Our continuous meddling in Europe has isolated us from the Dominions.

BLOOD LUST IN GERMANY^ Mr Churchill said the dominant fact at present was that Germany was rearming and the blood lust was being inculcated in German youth. No wonder there was fear and alarm among all Germany’s neighbours. British isolation was utterly impossible, but Britain should practice a certain degree of detachment and not try to weaken the g-rea-t Powers that felt themselves endangered. Captain R. A. Eden said the Government still stood by the draft convention embodying the greatest measure of agreed disarmament the world had ever attempted. If anyone tried to persuade the country that the Government amidst its reconstruction efforts was turning aside to pursue the bloodstained phantom of war he would deserve to receive the universal contempt of his fellow countrymen.

Mr Lloyd George said that what caused Germany to leave the League was the insistence on a probationary period. Was this necessary in addition to inspection? he asked. What Power other than Britain had honoured its obligations to disarm? 110 appealed to the Government to get back to the draft convention. Italy and the United States were willing to do without a probationary period, and if Britain had held the same line firmly France would have given way. The debate was concluded.