SCRAPPING OF WARSHIPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18020, 20 February 1922, Page 7

SCRAPPING OF WARSHIPS.

CASE OF NEW ZEALAND.

SIR J. SALMOND'S PROPOSAL.

A PUBLIC CEREMONY. By Telegraph—Press Association—Copyright. United Service. LONDON, Feb. 17. Sir John Salmond, the Now Zealand delega,to to- the Washington Conference, who recently arrived in London, states that his experiences at Washington have convinced him that there is no necessity far separate Australian and New Zealand representation at international conferences in which the British Empire participates, but ho does not think thai a system of joint representation would be agreed to.

Sir John rejoices in tho spirit of concord, compromise, and surrender, on the part of all the Powers which rendered settlement possible. Pointedly omitting France, he states: "I am satisfied the conference resulted in a most notable increase in goodwill, mutual confidence, and understanding among the threo Great Powers, the British Empire, the United States, and Japan. Australia and Now Zealand welcome the Pacific settlement as a guarantee of peace in the ocean in which they possess most direct and special interest.

" Under the Naval Treaty, tho battlecruiser New Zealand, of which New Zealanders are justly proud, is doomed. They regard the impending destruction with regret natural and inevitable in view of her origin and history, but recognising the greatness of the occasion they aro willing that the great ship given to Britain for the purpose of war shall be offered as a sacrifice on the altar of peace. In this connection I suggest the destruction should be mado a' public ceremonial, not dono secretly and silently, as if we were putting obsolete machinery on the scrap heap, but with dignity, honour, and ceremonial observance appropriate to so great and significant an episode." Sir John Salmond is sailing for New Zealand on March 18.