ARMAMENT LIMITATION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 16583, 16 November 1921, Page 7

ARMAMENT LIMITATION.

COMMITTEES TO REPORT. WORK AT THE CONFERENCE £j TekriftpH—Press Association—CopjTight. Australian and N.Z. Cable Association. (Received November 16, 11.50 a.m.) WASHINGTON, November 15. With a democratic absence of formality the second plenary session of the Conference was opened in the presence of a large number of spectators, including many ladies. It was agreed the recommendation of the Armaments Committee appointed at the first session that a committee he appointed, composed of all th© plenipotentiaries and delegates of th© United State*, British Empire, France, Italy and Jaaan, to examine and report to the full Conference respecting armaments, the committee to have power to appoint sub-committees. The Conference similarly agreed with the Pacific Committee’s recommendation of the appointment of a committee composed of all plenipotentiary delegates from the nine nations, including the British Empire, to examine and report to the full Conference regarding Pacific and Ear Eastern questions. SCRAPPING SUBMARINES. Bt Telegraph—Pres* A»soci*tior.—Copyright. (Received November 16, 9.20 a.m.) IX3NDON, November 15. The 4 ‘ Manchester Guardian*” in pointing out that the Washington disarmament scheme, as outlined by Mr C. E. Hughes (Secretary of State), does not touch the efuestion of submarines, says that there is reuson to believe that Britain would not altogether resist u proposal that all the Powers should scrap their submarines simultaneously. Th© public opinion of the world ought to be consulted on the question, because submarines were difficult to control and ©bold be eecretly constructed. MR BALFOUR SPEAKS. Immediately the formal business had concluded Mr J. A. Balfour rose. Speaking eloquently and gracefully, as is his wont, he said that lie was the first to respond to the great events of Saturday, because he was a representative of a nation that was more profoundly interested in naval matters than any other nation. He congratulated Mr Hughes the fact that he had added a new anniversary to history. November 11 had been hailed as marking the end of tlie war, so November 12 would be gratefully held in retrospect as the date of the beginning of a movement, not only to restore peace conditions, but also to se© that war conditions should never recur. He counted himself among the fortunate on «>arth at being present. Mr Hughes had admirably kept his secret. (Laughter.) Mr Balfour said that as ho listened to Mr Hughes he became aware he was assisting in a great historical event.