DISARMAMENT

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 35, 10 February 1934, Page 9

DISARMAMENT

DEBATE IN COMMONS MR. BALDWIN’S COMMENT WAR NOT INEVITABLE [British Official Wireless.] KUGBY, Feb. 8. When Mr. Stanley Baldwin took part in the House of Commons debate last night on Imperial defence, he described it as complementary to Tuesday’s debate on disarmament when the House of Commons was almost unanimous ih approving what the Government was trying to do in that field. The British memorandum on disarmament was a last attempt to secure peace by international agreement based on ordered and limited armaments. For good or ill in a very short time they would know whether they might look for success or not. What they sought was something that would avert the dreadful alternative of no agreement of any kind There were immense difficulties in securing agreement, and he warned members against light-hearted talk on economic blockages or budgetary limitations on armaments. He did not, however, agree that war was inevitable. The only surviving cause of war was boundaries unsatisfactory now or in the future, and changes therein were a work proper to the League of Nations. That was why the Government would do all in its power to maintain the League. If the Government’s present disarmament efforts failed, it would, however, be its duty to look after the country’s interests first and quickly. If, on the other hand, they succeeded, there would be agreed limits up to which all countries could arm, and it would be Britain’s duty to make herself as competent as possible up to that limit, which was what every nation must do if it was to make itself fit to be a partner and colleague of other nations.