BRITISH NAVAL POLICY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19699, 27 July 1927, Page 11

BRITISH NAVAL POLICY.

CABINET CONSIDERATION. AMERICAN PRESS COMMENT.

HOSTILITY OF PROPAGANDA.

By Telegraph—Press Association —Copyright. .. {Received July 26, 5.5 p.m.) and N.Z. LONDON. July 25. Contrary to expectation, tliere was no full meeting of the Cabinpt to-day for a discussion about the naval arms limitation negotiations at Geneva. The subject was, however, considered by a Cabinet Committee and a section of the Imperial Defence Committee. A full meeting of the Cabinet is to be held to-morrow, when Mr. W. C. Bridgemati and Viscount Cecil, the chief British delegates to the conference, will receive final instructions as to how to deal with the American objections to the Anglo-Japanese compromise, which is now the basis of the discussions at Geneva. The Daily Telegraph says the British Ambassador to Washington has been instructed to protest vigorously against the unchecked anti-British' propaganda and misrepresentation of British statements which have characterised a considerable section of the American press since the Geneva conference was opened. AMEBIC A CRITICISED, OUTSPOKEN FRENCH PAPER. WHAT BRITAIN HAS TO FACE. A. and N.Z.-Sun. PARIS. July 25. The newspaper Le Journal comments upon the situation at the Geneva Naval Conference. It says: "It is tragic that Britain stands alone face to face with an America whose braggart Imperialism is no longer content with a fleet rivalling that of Japan, , but must strive for supremacy over Britain. "The paradox of the campaign for disarmament lies in the fact that it has dragged into the light of day those ambitions which hitherto have been hidden beneath a mask of hypocritical pacificism." ' FOREIGN OPINION. BRITAIN MISREPRESENTED. REAL AIMS REITERATED. (British Official Wireless.) A. and N.Z. RUGBY, July 25. The points of detail which have still to be settled in the negotiations about the cruiser problem at the Geneva conference were this morning before the Cabinet, which is also understood to be giving general consideration to the necessity ,for meeting the constant misrepresentation of Britain's case in foreign countries. It may be found necessary to draft a statement which would correct the impression that the idea of naval expansion which has crept into the conference has arisen out of the British proposals. These were, as a matter of fact, based entirely on Britain's desire to achieve the greatest policy of ' economy consistent with security. If the British proposals were given effect to they would result in a saving of more than £50,000,000. The visit to London of Mr. Bridgeman and Lord Cecil has enabled the Cabinet to endorse the clear statement of the British case which was made at the recent plenary session of the conference. Having examined more exhaustively the figures upon which that statement was based the Times expresses the hope that certain slight modifications which been made may improve the prospects of an agreement A passing reference to the conference was made in a speech at the week-end by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Mr. Churchill, at Honiton. He said: "We desire that the results of the conference should be permanent, but it is absolutely necessary that the present position of the British Empire, and the present position of this island, should be understood. "For many generations we have held the. sovereignty of the seas. We. have Used it for the benefit of all nations. Due consideration must be shown by each of those great Powers to the special needs of others in vital matters. "An agreement is very desirable. A disagreement would be very regrettable. Nevertheless, an agreement that would mean spending gigantic sums on naval construction for many years to come may be worse for all concerned than the moderate expenditure which would follow freedom from any agreement. "The objects we have set before ourselves are those of security and economy, and, above all, peace and the spirit of peace."