NAVAL ARMAMENTS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18157, 31 January 1921, Page 5

NAVAL ARMAMENTS

9 OPINION OF THE ADMIRALTY,

BIG SHIPS FAVOURED,

Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright. LONDON, January 29.

(Received Jan. 30, at 5.5 p.m.) Since the announcement by the Daily .Chronicle the Sub-committee of Imperial Defence has continued its inquiry. It :s known that a large body at the Admiralty is evidently' in favour of continuing _to build big snips, though the financial difib cultics are very great. It is now understood that the Cabinet will not come to a final decision in the matter until it has consulted the dominions at the Premiers’ Conference. —A. and N.Zr Cable.

OPINION IN AMERICA,

TWO DIVERGENT VIEWS.

NEW YORK, January 28.

(Received ‘Jan. 30, at 5.5 p.m.) Admiral Sims, in a speech at Haverhill, Massachusetts, said that disarmament was impossible at present. The United States should continue her programme of naval construction. Only when all the nations agreed to do away with armies and navies would it be safe for the United States to disarm.—A. and N.Z. Cable.

, WASHINGTON, January 28. (Received Jan. 30, at 5.5 p.m.) The Secretary for War (Mr N. D. Baker), testifying before the House Committee on Appropriations, said he believed the United States ought to lead the world in the matter of disarmament as a practical manifestation of its peaceful intentions. —A. and N.Z. Cable.

[The Daily Chronicle made the statement about a fortnight ago that the Sub-commit-tee of the Council of Imperial Defence had oome to a momentous decision against the continuation of the big ship policy on the ground that it involved the country in a naval expenditure which was crushing, and which would make the effort to reduce the war debt impossible. The enormous expense not only applied to battleships, but to docks and aircraft, and to the flotillas of cruisers and destroyers necessary to protect the large vessels. The Chronicle added that a decision along these lines might cost the fleet the services of Lord Beatty, but if he agreed the sub-committee and Lord Beatty would earn the gratitude of their countrymen. A later cablegram stated, on the authority of the Daily Mail, that there was a crisis at the Admiralty, due to acute differences regarding naval policy. The paper also hinted at Lord Jellicoe’s return,]

AMERICAN NAVAL PROGRAMME. PARIS, January 28. Sir Auckland Geddes (British Ambassador at Washington) had long interviews with Mr Lloyd George on Wednesday/and Thursday. The suggestion that he brought on American proposals for a naval holiday is regarded as inaccurate. A reduction of the American' programme is considered to be unlikely in view of the number of unemployed in the States. —A. and N.Z. Cable.