ARMAMENTS

Hokitika Guardian, 27 June 1935, Page 6

ARMAMENTS

DISCUSSED IN LORDS (British Official Wirrfcss.) (Received this Viay at 1.35 p.m.) RUGBY, June 2(3. In the Lords, replying to the {debate on the Anglo German naval ftgreemnt, -Lord Londonderry said:' “To have.missed this opportunity of the limitation in the sphere of naval defence would have been to miss a chance of eliminating, we may hope, for all time, of that fatal eompetitition of naval armaments between Germany and this country; which did sb much to poison the. atmosphere a quarter of a century ago. It would be a great mistake' not to assume that in accepting the agreement with Germany, the Government believed, that by settling a fixed point of departure for future discussion, both as regards British and German armaments, they had done a service to other powers in precisely the same manner. If those .other powers could succeed in coming •to an agreement with 'Germany in regard to land or air armaments in .such a way as not to commit this country to any particular strength, the Government would believe they had done us and the rest of the world a service.

. “Before the agreement was concluded, tjhe French Government in common with other Powers signatory to the "Washington treaty, was informed on June 7 of an outline of the agreement and were invited to communicate any observations they might desire to ..offer. Government believed that when ithe .French Government were able to review the. situation as a whole through expert representatives, whom ;it was hoped .they would appoint for this purpose, they would admit that this step had been in the ultimate interests of France.” .