LUCID EXPOSITION

Northern Advocate, 22 April 1929, Page 5

LUCID EXPOSITION

DISARMAMENT PRINCIPLES AERIAL AND TERRESTRIAL. BRITAIN STRIVES FOR CONCORD. (British Official Wireless.) (Received 12.30 p.m.) RUGBY, April 20. The Preparatory Disarmament Commission of the League of Nations decided unanimously to set aside the Russian Soviet proposals of 1928. Lord Cnshendnn, the leading British delegate, said that in his judgment the Commission was now beginning serious business. He recalled that the Commission started its work by the discussion of two draft conventions, submitted by the British and French delegations. A good measure -of agreement was reached upon these conventiohs.

There was a scertain amount of disagreement, and the disagreement was centred on a few points of .very great importance. . ■ Thus, in the following year, there was an -adjournment to give -opportunity, for discussions, -and if possible, an arrangement regarding the disagreement which had arisen in relation to naval disarmament.

Unhappily, those efforts had not so far 'been successful, but 'Outside the Preparatory Commission, the leading naval Powers that had signed the agreement at • 'Washington had actually effected a- large and important measure, hath a. reduction and limitation. He suggested that, in view of their progress, the commission should proceed with the other branch of the subject, namely, limitation as applied to forces by laud and air, for he had no idoubt the naval difficulties would' be overcome. . .

SELF-DENYING. DISPOSITION.

On the subject of limitation by land and air,. Lord" Cusheudun ‘ confessed' the British Government was keenly zealous to arrive at some definite measure of agreement which , would permit of the opening of a disarmament conference. He himself had been very impatient and sometimes inclined to feel a little exasperated at the .slow progress that had been made. The British Government was prepared to piake great sacrifices in order to reach the agreement' that they desired. On former occasions when the Commission had discussed various propositions the British delegation, represented, first by Lord Cecil and afterwards by himself, had expressed strong views . on. many points in the dispute.

Lord Cushendun added: “We still hold to those opinions. We still hold that the principles, which we had expressed are most likely to lead to good results, but on the other hand, while holding to those views, we recognise •that this branch of the subject is not ■that in which we have the most interest. We recognise that Great Britain does not protend to be a military power in the Continental sense of the term. Her (military system, itself, is fundamentally different from that of most of the countries represented in this room, and her land forces have already been reduced to such a point that they .cannot claim to rival, in any sense, those- of the Continental Powers. Therefore, we recognise that,in this sphere, a lead should be taken, and must be taken by the Military Powers and that the possibility of effective limitation depends upon, the reconciliation of their views and .policy. DEFERENCE TO OTHERS. We do not, therefore.,, in this session intend to add to the .difficulty of agreement by insisting in every .case on our own views. The all-important consideration, to us is the attainment of such an agreement as will make progress possible, and though our own system is so different from those of the Continental Powers we feel confident we shall, be able to accept any proposals which meet with the general assent of the other Powers represented here. “I do not, therefore., intend now to repeat the arguments which Lord Cecil # ‘aml I myself have used on earlier occasions regarding points on which idiiffercnceis have arisen. Of course, if I saw the chance of converting my .colleagues to my viewpoint I should certainly endeavour to persuade them, but I am not going to adopt that attitude, the only result of which would be to wreck the work, of this Commission by making an 'agreement impossible. “I thus hope to facilitate the'agreement in the Commission, and, while reserving my right to examine .the results of the Commission’s labour as a whole, I repeat that my GovernI meat will endeavour to .accept—and 1 feel confident it will be able to accept —any .scheme which meets with the approval of the rest of the Comm isj sion. i

APPLICATION TO AIRCRAFT. “What I have said applies to land armaments. As regards air armaments, air power is of course of very special importance and interest to an Empire' as 'Scattered as ours and embracing such wide stretches of relatively undeveloped territory. My country’s home defence problem is, however, broadly speaking, the same as that of the Continental countries, though its forces are at present considerably smaller than those of the other European countries. My Government would, therefore, expect, as