VIEWS OF DOMINIONS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22751, 11 December 1935, Page 9

VIEWS OF DOMINIONS

LONDON, December 9.

Sir James Parr said that the hopes Mr Baldwin expressed were also the hopes of New Zealand, which was specially interested in naval limitation from the viewpoint of easing the financial burden, which was of serious importance to a young developing country. People in New Zealand were appalled at the ruinous cost of competitive armaments, which was a burden no country, not even tlio richest, could bear. "New Zealand considers that an effort should again be made to obtain agreement on both limitation of future construction and maximum displacement, also calibre of guns and categories of ships. Frankly, the conference meets in circumstances far from favourable, but if it is launched under less promising circumstances than others the challenge to see that we do not fail is all the greater. The mere fact that in these troubled times we are able to meet and reason together itself is a happy augury." Mr Stanley Bruce said: "There is a tendency to forget the lessons so present in our minds after the world conflagration, yet the need for co-operative action is as great,to-4ay as it was then. We are seeing the first signs of recovery after five years of unparalleled financial and economic crisis. Failure of this conference might plunge us back into the depths of depression. Australia requires only those naval forces which are necessary for defence and to give a sense of security, which is the surest foundation of peace. We are desirous of prolonging the principles of the Washington and London Treaties, with only such changes as altered circumstances demand. We favour the continuation of the provisions of quantitative limitations, and we desire a reduction in the size of the larger types of ships and guns, and the abolition of submarines. The task of reconciling the necessary varying requirements is no light one, calling for all the energy and goodwill at our command, in which the Australian delegation will wholeheartedly co-operate."