BRITAIN & DISARMAMENT

Waikato Times, Volume 110, Issue 18521, 29 December 1931, Page 6

BRITAIN & DISARMAMENT

Although the British Admiralty has dented the reported consideration oC the suspension of naval building by Great Britain as a gesture for disarmament, it is apparent that some action is to bo taken to defer naval construction. Britain is thus 'considering ille offer of further proof of her earnestness for disarmament in ille interest of world peace at a time, when proof of Britain's sincerity lias already been amply demonstrated. As evidence of the importance placed by the British Government on the Disarmament Conference, Mr Ramsay MacDonald made early this month a statement of where Britain stands, which merited approval of the Empire and equally cordial welcome throughout the world. The British intention is for the personnel of its delegation to be as officially strong as it could and should be, and this fact will contribute an impressive influence .on other Powers. They have maintained an undisguised regard for British leadership In international affairs. At times other nations have had prominence of late; France and America, for instance, in the promulgation of the Briand-Kellogg Pact, and America particularly in the movement for the postponement of war debt obligations. But the moral prestige of Britain has remained, in spite of —and yet, from one point of view, because of—the scaling clown of her expenditure on armaments. There would have been an impressiveness in this announcement iiad it been made at a time when Ihe British Navy was kept at a two-Power standard; behind it is now the force of a daringly selfless example in disarmament, anil assurance of sincerity in the advocacy of universal peace that lias recently characterised successive British Governments. It is a moral challenge to others to regard and assist the peacemaking project with a like sincerity and zeal. They can surely do no less than select delegations of equal standing. The British declaration of intention to press for disarmament is all the stronger In vio\v of the fact that it is made by a National Government. Mr MacDonald, speaks for a Government differently constituted to the Labour Government, a Government capable of looking at the problems with clearer realisation of the peril of quixotic action, and foreign confidence will strengthen accordingly. The achievement of world peace, as Lord Cecil has olden insisted, demands patient planning, it •« not. to bo accomplished merely by desire, however ardent and unanimous. Even disarmament, to ho effective ns an aid to peace, calls iir patient cilort. There is now an assurance that, so far as Brllish leadership can effect this, Lite problem will have careful as well as hopeful handling. Not only do the nature of the Government and the strength of its delegation virtually ensure tills; expectation of it is confirmed by what Mr MacDonald has said about British policy as it is to be enunciated at the conference. It is expected that the 'conference will he a long one, probably holding sessions at intervals during six months, and there will be ample time for submission of most points to Parliament, should this be deemed advisable, beforo the convention is finally passed. Meanwhile, the British lead has been well given.