NATIONS’ ARMIES.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 105, 3 April 1926, Page 9

NATIONS’ ARMIES.

PROPOSED REDUCTION. BRITISH POLICY OUTLINED. WHOLE-HEARTED ASSISTANCE. LONDON, April 1. Tho British Government’s disarmament policy was outlined in tho House of Commons by the Under-Secretary for Foreign Affairs; Commander Locker Lampson, who said that he regretted that Russia had declined to participate in the preparatory conference on disarmament. Ha declared that tho Government was ready to assist whole-heartedly in any international steps leading to a general measure of disarmament. Lord Cecil would go to Geneva prepared to urge some definite scheme for disarmament, but it would probably b.i more a]jpropriate for some great military Power to take at Geneva tho initiative in regard to military disarmament. It was unfortunate, lie continued, that similar restrictions did not apply to submarines as applied to other warships under the Washington Treaty. Tho Government would do its best to carry further the principles laid down at Washington, and was anxious to co-operate in' any general scheme of military limitation. They would welcome any scheme for reduction or limitation of air forces which would result in the establishment of a measure of equality between the air forces of Britain and any other country.—Reuter.