NAVAL DISARMAMENT

Otago Witness, Issue 3942, 1 October 1929, Page 29

NAVAL DISARMAMENT

MOVE TOWARDS WORLD PEACE. PRIME MINISTER’S MISSION. DEPARTURE FOR UNITED STATES. RUGBY, September 27. Mr Ramsay MacDonald, who will leave London for Southampton to-night and will sail on the Berengaria early to-morrow morning, will take to the United States the good wishes of all his countrymen for a successful termination of his mission. Those accompanying Mr MacDonald are Sir Robert Vansittart, who is his principal private secretary, as he was to the ex-Prime Minister, Mr Baldwin, and who is also Under-secretary at the Foreign Office and the late head of the American department there, Mr Thomas .Tones, who has been deputy secretary to the Cabinet during the terms of office of the last four Prime Ministers, and Mr Robert Craigie, the present head of the American department at the Foreign Office. The ladies of the party are Miss Jshbel MacDonald, the Prime Minister’s daughter, and his private secretary, Miss Rosenberg. The Daily Herald to-day reproduces a letter from Mr MacDonald, in which the latter, referring to his inability to attend the annual conference of the Labour Party, which will take place during his absence, says: “I go on a voyage of exploration. The greatest contribution which this generation can make to the history of the world is to establish peace amongst the nations and induce them to feel a sense of security. The United States and ourselves, having the same objects, should proclaim them with a united voice. Good and cordial relations between us two can change the outlook for peace and give the world an energetic faith instead of a hesitating scepticism. I go away to see what can be done, and with the help of my colleagues in the Labour movement and of every influence making for peace, who dares to say that success is impossible? ” Prior to his departure for the United States to-day the Prime Minister made the following statement to the press:— “ I am looking forward very much to my visit to the United States and Canada and to the renewal of old and the making of new friendships there, but of course this is an official visit and is concerned with public affairs, I do not expect my stay in Washington to lead to spectacular developments. One reason for this is that the current negotia tions concerning naval disarmament have been carried so far that they have now to be brought to a wider international stage before there can be any progress in naval disarmament. It is necessary for Washington and London to devise means for terminating the deadlock which arose between us at the Geneva Conference in 1927. I am glad to say we have made such good progress in this work that the moment has, we hope, come when the five naval Powers who signed the Washington treaties can be invited to join and ensure a common happy issue to the conference. If all goes well, the Five-Power Conference will be held in the early new year. If it succeeds, it will supply the Prepara tory Disarmament Commission of the League ot Nations with a substantial contribution to naval disarmament. The Preparatory Commision would then be free to proceed with its general work, and it will later on be possible for the League of Nations to summon a general disarmament conference of all nations, towards which it has long been working.”

The Prime Minister added: “ Such, briefly, is the situation regarding disarmament, but that is not the only impulse that moves me to go to America. I want very much to see President Hoover once again and to meet other American public men, many of whom I know already. We have so much wo>k to do which cannot be done unless he understand and have confidence in each other. The history of the Anglo-Ameri-can naval situation during the past three years proves, if proof is needed, that the closest possible understanding between the two nations is of the greatest importance, not only for those nations but for the world. I have always felt that personal contact between those actually responsible for Government in Washington and London is essential if that understanding is to be developed as fully as we all wish it to be. Both nations have a great role to play in the advancement not only of disarmament but of many other democratic and moral issues with which their history is associated. I am off in the hope of being able to do something to narrow the Atlantic.”

The Prime Minister received the following message from the King: “On the eve of your journey I wish you Godspeed. It is a departure that will be surrounded with good wishes, for it is a contribution to those happy relations between two great peoples which must be an article of faith among all men of goodwill.” Mr MacDonald replied: “With my humble duty to your Majesty I am deeply grateful for your Majesty’s gracious and kindly thought in sending me good wishes for a journey which will indeed, I trust, be a fruitful innovation.” Mr Stanley Baldwin, the Conservative ex-Prime Minister, who has just re-

turned from a holiday at Aix-les-Bains, visited the Prime Minister to-day and wished him bon voyage and the success of h’s mission to America.

A WONDERFUL SEND-OFF. LONDON, September 28. Mr MacDonald had a wonderful sendoff on his historic mission to the United States. Crowds gathered at Waterloo station in the evening to witness his departure to Southampton for the Berengaria. Distinguished people had to fight their way through thousands to reach the platform. During the struggle Mr T. Shaw (Minister of War) lost his watch. General C. G. Dawes (the United States Ambassador) and many m •mbers of Cabinet were waiting when the Premier, with his daughter, Ishbel, arrived. There were resounding cheers when Mr MacDonald and Miss MacDonald stood together for photographers. Then the Premier and General Dawes faced a batterv of cameras. lhe train slowly steamed out 15 minutes late amid redoubled cheers and the singing of “ He’s a Jolly Good Good Fellow,” which completely drowned '■ The Red Flag.” On bis arrival at Southampton the Premier was looking tired but otherwise well. He was conducted to a luxurious self-contained suite, which was intended tor the exKaiser before the war, when the Berengaria was called the Imperator. LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE. LONDON, September 29. During the Premier’s absence Mr Snowden will be in control. Air MacDonald, before sailing, left a message for the Labour Parly Conference at Brighton, which will open on Monday, in which he says: “We are not trying to present other nations with a fait accompli which they must take. \V hat w e are determined to avoid is that the general march forward towards disarmament may be held up in the future as in the past, while two great naval powers such as ourselves and America halt by the wayside and argue their special difficulties.” Mr MacDonald warned the party m reference to home legislation that time was needed to study the problems and prepare plans capable of withstanding the severest test and the criticism of the House of Commons.

ATTITUDE OF UNITED STATES. ASHINGTON, September 28. “ As I sense the prevailing sentiment of this country towards Mr MacDonald's visit it is one of warm welcome to him personally, and sincere hope that he and President Hoover may completely succeed in their negotiations,” said Sir Esme Howard, the British Ambassador, in an interview. Most of Mr MacDonald’s time in America will be spent with President Hoover either at White House or at the President’s new fishing camp at Virginia. The plan is to leave the two leaders much together, so that they may smooth away exising difficulties and prepare for a final agreement if possible at the coming naval conference.